Canterbury and Wellington think bigger for the NPC as new stadium, free-to-air TV deal and 50th anniversary coincide
Sunday, 5 April 2026
Canterbury view One NZ Stadium as “once-in-a-generation’ opportunity.
Lions eye ‘double-header’ with other Wellington events.
Canterbury still expect Mo’unga for NPC - and haven’t heard otherwise.
Canterbury Rugby Football Union (CRFU) chief executive Tony Smail is keeping the door open for venues such as Rangiora in the future but believes that the new One NZ Stadium in Christchurch is a “once a generation opportunity” that can’t be ignored this year.
Provincial rugby heavyweights Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland will play all of their NPC home games at One NZ Stadium, Hnry Stadium and Eden Park in the coming season, a change from community-focused initiatives that took them to Rangiora, Porirua Park and Auckland Grammar in recent seasons.
Smail told the Sunday Star-Times that several factors played a role in Canterbury’s decision, particularly the opening of the new One NZ Stadium venue in central Christchurch.
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“We haven't ruled out a return of taking the NPC to our country audience, but in 2026 we've got a once-in a-lifetime opportunity to play in a brand new venue at One New Zealand stadium and we want to make the most of that,” Smail said.
“We see One NZ Stadium as a chance for Canterbury rugby to connect with its entire network.
“It’s Canterbury stadium and we want it to be a community stadium - a place where everyone feels part of it.
“So, we've really focused our efforts in 2026 to make the most of that opportunity.”
Wellington have endured well-documented financial problems in recent years, but a temporary shift to Porirua Park for home games in the NPC last year also coincided with some poor results on the field.
Wellington Rugby Football Union (WRFU) chief executive Tony Giles said that a return to Hnry Stadium - formerly Sky Stadium - could see the Lions host “double-header”-style events in a bid to get more people through the turnstiles in challenging times.
“We're having conversations with management at the stadium around match-day delivery, and they are ongoing,” he told the Star-Times.
“We're looking at innovative ways that we can deliver the game to make it more accessible at the stadium for our fans.
“We're looking at opportunities that might include playing double-headers at that facility, but not as you would perceive a double-header, but potentially playing an NPC game along with another Wellington event.
“There could be multiple events at that match day experience.
“Porirua Park was awesome. It was a good opportunity for us to connect at a time of real need when the organisation was going through significant fiscal challenges.
“We've uncoupled a bit of our fiscal challenges by the sale of our investment in the Hurricanes.
“We've reconnected our administration of Wellington rugby by moving back into the city as well. We're now located at Rugby League Park in Newtown.
“So all of that provides opportunities to deliver the game differently within our communities, and moving back to the stadium was one of those decisions.”
The 50th anniversary of the NPC, a strong season in 2026 - broadcast numbers were up 9% - and the new free-to-air coverage on TVNZ this season had also encouraged the provincial unions ahead of the new season.
Smail said each union had been asked to lean into their own unique histories, while Giles said the pending TVNZ deal had been a shot in the arm.
“One of the factors for all of us this year is that the NPC is going free to air,” Giles said.
“With that comes other opportunities around commercialism as well, because there's a lot more lens on product.
“You can't compare apples with apples at a community stadium versus a stadium when you've got commercial opportunities around digital signage, opportunities to promote your commercial partners, and also provide more for your fans.”
Over the past two years the NPC has solidified its place in the New Zealand rugby landscape, and now has a champion at the highest level - new senior All Blacks assistant Neil Barnes.
Smail said the competition continued to prove its worth as a high-performance system, citing the example of Canterbury loose forward Torian Barnes, who was now starring for the Blues.
Smail also said that Canterbury expected returning All Black Richie Mo’unga to play for them this season, with a big clash against Auckland at One NZ Stadium opening the season on August 1, followed by a likely Ranfurly Shield clash against Otago in Dunedin on August 9.
The All Blacks start their tour of South Africa with a game against the Stormers in Cape Town on August 8, NZ time.
“We have contracted him [Mo’unga] and he is expected to play for Canterbury in the NPC, and that's about all we can control,” Smail said.
“We we expect that he'll be lining up for Canterbury to play in the NPC. We've heard nothing different.
“Everybody talks about the All Blacks but that’s beyond our control and he's currently contracted to play for Canterbury.
“[The Shield challenge] would be a wow moment, wouldn't it?”
Meanwhile, the Star-Times understands that a new naming rights sponsor for the NPC is in the works and will be announced before the start of the season.
Bunnings were the previous sponsors of the competition.