Fourteen All Blacks - including veteran Beauden Barrett – will turn out for their provinces for the final round of the National Provincial Championship next weekend.

The 2026 NPC season keeps on giving with Counties Manukau causing a upset by claiming the Ranfurly Shield from Northland with a 22-19 win in Whangārei.

Former All Blacks captain Scott Barrett has been named at lock for the Taranki Buls in their clash with the Hawke's Bay Magpies in round nine of the NPC.

A further ten All Blacks who were part of the tour to South Africa and the United States. are available to play for their provincial teams in this week’s NPC. This is in addition to the players who returned from the tour earlier and have already featured for their teams.

Northland have retained the Ranfurly Shield after holding off Tasman 20-10 in front of a roaring Semenoff Stadium crowd in Whangarei, their first Shield defence in 47 years.

The 50th anniversary of rugby's NPC gets underway with limited fuss and limited effort from NZ Rugby to what is still the breeding ground of the game.

Canterbury reclaimed the Bunnings NPC crown with a 36-28 victory over Otago in Christchurch their 15th national title but first since 2017.

Canterbury worked their way into the the Bunnings NPC final with a win over Hawke's Bay to face Otago PHOTO: BUNNINGS NPC Canterbury have earned their place in an all-South Island NPC final, with a strong second half to beat Hawke's Bay 43-19 in their semi-final at Christchurch. Second-five Dallas McLeod scored a quick double midway through the second half to to help with the win and secure the final hosting rights against neighbours Otago for the title next weekend. LATEST H

A total of seven members of the All Blacks Rugby Championship squad will represent their Provincial Unions in the National Provincial Championship quarter-finals this weekend.

Otago have taken the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury in an NPC thriller in Christchurch, with a 38-36 victory.