2021 NPC Round 1Matches.

The 2021 Bunnings NPC has two divisions in which each team plays five home and away games, as well as four cross-over matches with teams in the other division. Premiership teams for 2021 are Tasman, Canterbury, Hawkes Bay, Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Waikato and Wellington, while Championship teams are Counties Manukau, Otago, Northland, Manawatu, North Harbour, Southland and Taranaki

6 Aug, Manawatu v Counties Manukau, CIT Arena, Palmerston North 7.05pm 

7 Aug, Taranaki v Hawkes Bay, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, 2.05pm

7 Aug, Wellington v Northland, Sky Stadium, Wellington, 2.05pm

7 Aug, Otago v Southland, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 4.35pm

8, Aug, Bay of Plenty v Tasman, Tauranga Domain, 2.05pm

8 Aug, North Harbour v Waikato, North Harbour Stadium, Albany, 2.05pm

8 Aug, Auckland v Canterbury, Eden Park, Auckland, 4.35pm

All Blacks Named To Face Australia

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Australia in the first Bledisloe Cup match at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday 7th August at 7.05pm. 

The side features Richie Mo'unga at first five, Damian McKenzie at fulback, and Aaron Smith at halfback in his 100th test. All three Barrett brothers are included in the reserves, while David Havili is named at second five-eighths to partner centre Anton Lienert-Brown, and Brodie Retallick partners captain Sam Whitelock at lock.

New Zealand All Blacks: 

Damian McKenzie, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Sam Whitelock (c), Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, George Bower. 

Reserves: 

Dane Coles, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Angus Ta’avao, Scott Barrett, Luke Jacobson, Brad Weber, Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett.

Australia: 

Tom Banks, Jordan Petaia, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Andrew Kellaway, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Harry Wilson, Michael Hooper (c), Rob Valentini, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Darcy Swain, Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper. 

Reserves: 

Jordan Uelese, Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Matt Philip, Fraser McReight, Jake Gordon, Matt To’omua, Reece Hodge.

Farah Palmer Cup Week Three Results.

Week three of the Farah Palmer Cup saw Canterbury head the premiership division with late try 23-22 win over the Wellington Pride after Wellington lost both Jackie Patea-Fereti and Joanah Ngan-Woo to the sin-bin in the 71st and 79th minutes. Counties Manukau beat Otago to move into third, Waikato beat Bay of Plenty, Manawatu beat Northland, Hawkes Bay beat North Harbour, and Taranaki beat Tasman.

Hawke's Bay Tuis: 45 

Tries: Gemma Woods 2, Krysten Cottrell, Nicolette Adamson 2, Iukika Faavae, Conversions: Cottrell 3, Penalties: Cottrell 3

North Harbour Hibiscus: 24 

Tries: Kate  Williams, Katelyn Hilton, Jessie Courtenay Malupo, Inga Timani, Conversions: Hayley Hutana 2

Taranaki Whio: 34 

Tries: Tiana Davidson, Hannah McLean, Aroha Nuku 2, Chelsea Fowler, Keighley Simpson, Conversions: Chloe Sampson 2

Tasman Mako: 12 

Tries: Eve Findlay, Sui Pauaraisa, Conversion: Findlay

Bay of Plenty Volcanix: 10 

Tries: Karli Faneva, Kalyn Takitimu-Cook

Waikato: 27 

Tries: Cheyelle Robins-Reti 2, Grace Houpapa-Barrett 2, Chelsea Alley, Conversion: Ariana Bayler 

Northland Kauri: 12 

Tries: Sela Moata'ane, Krystal Murray, Conversion: Murray

Manawatu Cyclones: 39 

Tries: Jayme Nuku, Rhiarna Ferris, Corrineke Windle, Kahurangu Sturmey, Lauren Basillie, Conversions: Carys Dallinger 4, Penalties: Dallinger 2 

Counties Manukau Heat: 39 

Tries: Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Ocean Tierney, Kataraina Enosa-Taifau, Ti Tauasosi, Dayna Moon 2, Conversions: Hazel Tubic 3, Penalty: Tubic 

Otago Spirit: 7 

Try: Gemma Millar, Conversion: Sheree Hume

Canterbury: 23 

Tries: Grace Brooker, Isabella Waterman, Amy Rule, Conversions: Kendra Cocksedge, Penalties: Cocksedge 2 

Wellington Pride: 22 

Tries: Lyric Faleafaga , Joanah Ngan-Woo, Cheyne Copeland, Conversions: Amanda Rasch 2, Penalty: Rasch

Black Ferns Sevens Win Gold In Tokyo

The All Black Ferns women's sevens side has beaten France 26-12 to win gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The New Zealand side had progressed to the final after a close 22-17 win over Fiji in the semi-final after scoring a golden point try in extra time. The play-off for bronze saw Fiji beat Great Britain 21-12.

Semi-Final:  

New Zealand: 22 

Tries: Gayle Broughton 2, Stacey Fluhler, Portia Woodman, Conversion: Tyla Nathan-Wong 

Fiji: 17 

Tries: Reapi Ulunasau, Vasiti Solikoviti, Conversion: Viniana Riwai

Final:

New Zealand: 26 

Tries: Michaela Blyde, Gayle Broughton, Stacey Fluhler, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Conversion: Nathan-Wong 3

France: 12 

Tries: Caroline Drouin, Anne-Cecile Ciofani, Conversion: Ciofani

All Blacks Sevens Win Silver In Olympics Final

The All Black Sevens team has been beaten by Fiji 27-12 in their match for the 2021 Olympic Games gold in Tokyo last night. The New Zealand side had started on the back foot with error's gifting Fiji two tries in the opening minutes to Ratu Meli Derenalagi and Sireli Maqala. New Zealand trailed at the halftime break 19-12 after Fiji added a further try to Jiuta Wainiqolo, and New Zealand scored through Scott Curry and Sione Molia. The second half saw further errors and breakdown penalties against New Zealand, with Fiji adding a further try to Asaeli Tuivuaka and penalty kick. For the bronze medal playoff, Argentina beat Great Britain 17-12.

The All Black Sevens team had got through to the finals at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo after beating Great Britain 29-7.

Their first pool match against South Korea was a 50-5 win after only leading 14-5 at halftime. In their second match, Argentina scored first, but the New Zealanders struck back to lead 14-7 at halftime. Argentina was first to score in the second half to level the scores, but the lead was extended by tries to Joe Webber, Tim Mikkelsen and on fulltime Andrew Knewstubb for a final score 35-14. On day two, that had their third win over Australia 14-12 after they trailed early in the match.

After securing the top seed through points differential for the quarter finals, they played Canada to secure a 21-10 victory and match against Great Britain in the semi-finals. Other quarter finals results saw Fiji beat Australia 19-0, Argentina beat South Africa 19-14 after finishing match with only five players on the field, and Great Britain beat USA 26-21

Farah Palmer Cup Week Two Results

Week two of the Farah Palmer Cup saw a full round of matches, with wins to North Harbour at home over Tasman, Northland over Hawkes Bay in Napier, Canterbury over Waikato in Hamilton, Manawatu over Taranaki at home, Counties Manukau over Bay of Plenty at home, and Auckland over Otago in Dunedin. 

North Harbour: 35 

Tries: Hayley Hutana, Jade Wong, Anita Berry, Kate Williams, Ciara O'Connor, Conversions: Hutana 2, Penalties: Hutana 2 

Tasman: 32 

Tries: Easter Savelio, Eleri James-Smithers, Karla Wright-Akeli, Jess Foster-Lawrence, Eve Findlay, Conversions: Findlay 2, Penalty: Finlay

Canterbury 24 

Tries: Kendra Cocksedge 2, Grace Steinmetz, Conversions: Cocksedge 3, Penalty: Cocksedge

Waikato: 17 

Tries: Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Tanya Kalounivale, Kelsey Teneti, Conversion: Chelsea Alley

Northland Kauri: 46 

Tries: Kamila Wihongi, Sela Moata'ane, Hikitia Wikaira, Timara Leaf, Krystal Murray 2, Hinewai Pomare, Holli O'Sullivan, Conversions: Leilani Erwin, Murray, Tyler Nankiville

Hawke's Bay: 31 

Tries: Michaela Baker 2, Harmony Kautai 2, Moomooga Palu, Conversions: Krysten Cottrell

Manawatu: 48 

Tries: Janna Michel Vaughan 2, Lucy Brown 2, Crystal Mayes 2, Lauren Basillie 2, Conversions: Carys Dallinger 4 

Taranaki: 5 

Try: Aroha Nuku

Counties Manukau: 21 

Tries: Leilani Perese, Aeron Kalela Warbrooke, Conversion: Hazel Tubic, Penalties: Tubic 3

Bay of Plenty: 13 

Tries: Manaia Nuku, Karli Faneva, Penalty: Kalyn Takitimu-Cook

Auckland: 39 

Tries: Tafito Lafaele 2, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Natahlia Moors, Cristo Tofa, Conversions: Ruahei Demant 4, Penalties: Demant 2

Otago: 15 

Tries: Keely Hill, Oceana Campbell, Conversion: Sheree Hume, Penalty: Hume 

All Blacks Squad Named For 2021 Bledisloe Cup And Rugby Championship

All Black coach Ian Foster has named an update squad for the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship in the upcoming weeks. The squad features the return of halfback TJ Perenara who is back in the country after a playing sabbatical in Japan, while Braydon Ennor has recovered from appendicitis after being out for the latest Steinlager Series. Props Joe Moody and Ofa Tuungafasi have also returned from injury, which see's Ethan De Groot dropped from the squad.

Hookers:

Asafo Aumua, Dane Coles, Codie Taylor

Props:

Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Angus Ta’avao, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi 

Locks:

Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock  (c)

Loose Forwards:

Ethan Blackadder, Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu 

Halfbacks:

TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber 

First-Fives:

Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga 

Midfielders:

Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea 

Outside Backs:

Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie, Sevu Reece

Injury cover reserves:

George Bower, Finlay Christie, Samisoni Taukei’aho