ITM Cup

The NPC (National Provincial Competition) has always been New Zealand's premier domestic competition and was generally played between August and October every year. Twenty seven teams, each representing a provincial union, made up the competition across three divisions.

In 2006 the ITM Cup was introduced, with it's format evolving throughout the years.

The ITM Cup has been a feature of New Zealand rugby since 2006. It has changed the way it is played a number of times over the years.

Winners receive four competition points; if the game was a draw two points are awarded to each team. The Rugby union bonus points system is also used, where any team scoring four or more tries, and/or losing by less than seven points, receives an extra competition point. The top four teams at the end of the round-robin phase then played semifinals – the first placed team hosting the fourth placed team, and the second placed team hosting the third placed team. The two winners then played the final at the home ground of the top surviving seed. (Source: ITM Cup Website NPC History Section)