2021 Bunnings NPC explained

2021 Bunnings NPC season
Countries: New Zealand
Date:6 August – 20 November
Champions:Waikato
Runnersup:Tasman
Matches:53
Tries:353
Top Point Scorer:Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki)
172 points
Website:https://www.provincial.rugby/
Prevseason:2020
Nextseason:2022

The 2021 Bunnings NPC season was the 16th season of New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition since it turned professional in 2006. The regular season began on August 6, when Manawatu hosted Counties Manukau. It involved the top 14 rugby unions in New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, the competition was known as the Bunnings NPC and it was the first season under the lead sponsor and to carry the NPC moniker since 2005. The winner of the Championship, Taranaki wasn't promoted to the Premiership due to a format restructure earlier in the season. Despite finishing seventh in the Premiership, Auckland was not relegated to the Championship, having only played two matches due to a resurgence of COVID-19 in the Auckland Region.

Format

The Bunnings NPC standings were sorted by a competition points system. Four points were awarded to the winning team, a draw equaled two points, whilst a loss amounted to zero points. Unions could also win their side a respectable bonus point. To receive a bonus point, they must have scored four tries or more or lose by seven or fewer points or less.[1] Each team was placed on their total points received. If necessary of a tiebreaker, when two or more teams finish on equal points, the union who defeated the other in a head-to-head got placed higher. In case of a draw between them, the side with the biggest points differential margin got rights to be ranked above. If they were tied on points difference, it was then decided by a highest scored try count or a coin toss.[2] This seeding format was implemented since the beginning of the 2006 competition.

The competition included a promotion-relegation process with the winner of the Championship receiving automatic promotion to the Premiership, replacing the seventh-placed team in the Premiership which was relegated to the Championship for the following year. The regular season consisted of two types of matches. The internal division matches were when each team played the other six unions in their division once, home or away. The cross-division matches were when each team played four teams from the other division, thus missing out on three teams, each from the opposite division. Each union played home or away games against teams from the other division, making a total of ten competition games for each union.[3] The finals format allowed the top four teams from each division move on to the semi-finals. The top two division winners, based on table points, received a home semi-final. In the first round of the finals, the semi-finals, the second division winner hosted the third division winner, and the first division winner hosted the fourth division winner. The final was hosted by the top remaining seed.[4]

Standings

Source: Bunnings NPC standings 2021[5]

Premiership Division
Team
1 RS – Hawke's Bay8 7 0 1 280 197 +83 6 0 4 38
2 Waikato9 5 0 4 261 264 –3 6 2 2 30
3 Canterbury9 5 0 4 228 242 –14 4 2 2 28
4 Tasman8 5 0 3 240 187 +53 3 1 4 28
5 Wellington8 3 0 5 270 226 +44 5 4 4 25
6 Bay of Plenty8 3 0 5 222 252 –30 6 2 4 24
7 Auckland2 1 0 1 46 40 +6 1 1 2 8
Championship Division
Team
1 Taranaki8 8 0 0 302 181 +121 3 0 4 39
2 Manawatu8 4 0 4 239 229 +10 3 1 4 24
3 Otago7 3 0 4 144 170 –26 0 2 6 20
4 Southland7 1 0 6 134 222 –88 1 2 6 13
5 Northland8 1 0 7 167 292 –125 3 1 4 12
6 North Harbour2 1 0 1 29 34 –5 0 0 2 6
7 Counties Manukau2 0 0 2 27 53 –26 0 0 2 2

Standings progression

Premiership
TeamW1W2W3W4W5W6W7W8W9W10
Auckland style="background:#D8FFEB"5
(3rd)
style="background:#FFCCCC"6
(4th)
style="background:#ECECEC"6
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"6
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"6
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"6
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"8
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"8
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"8
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"8
(7th)
Bay of Plenty style="background:#FFCCCC"0
(6th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"5
(6th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"7
(6th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"8
(6th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"13
(5th)
style="background:#ECECEC"13
(6th)
style="background:#ECECEC"15
(6th)
style="background:#ECECEC"15
(6th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"17
(6th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"24
(6th)
Canterbury style="background:#FFCCCC"0
(5th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"5
(7th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"9
(4th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"13
(4th)
style="background:#ECECEC"13
(4th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"15
(5th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"18
(5th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"19
(5th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"23
(5th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"28
(3rd)
Hawke's Bay style="background:#FFCCCC"0
(7th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"5
(5th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"9
(3rd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"14
(2nd)
style="background:#ECECEC"14
(3rd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"19
(1st)
style="background:#D8FFEB"26
(1st)
style="background:#D8FFEB"31
(1st)
style="background:#D8FFEB"36
(1st)
style="background:#ECECEC"38
(1st)
Tasman style="background:#D8FFEB"4
(4th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"8
(2nd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"13
(1st)
style="background:#FFCCCC"13
(3rd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"18
(1st)
style="background:#FFCCCC"18
(2nd)
style="background:#ECECEC"20
(4th)
style="background:#ECECEC"20
(4th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"23
(3rd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"28
(4th)
Waikato style="background:#D8FFEB"5
(2nd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"10
(1st)
style="background:#FFCCCC"11
(2nd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"16
(1st)
style="background:#FFCCCC"17
(2nd)
style="background:#ECECEC"17
(3rd)
style="background:#FFCCCC"21
(2nd)
style="background:#FFCCCC"21
(3rd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"26
(2nd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"30
(2nd)
Wellington style="background:#D8FFEB"5
(1st)
style="background:#FFCCCC"7
(3rd)
style="background:#FFCCCC"8
(5th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"9
(5th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"11
(6th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"16
(4th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"21
(3rd)
style="background:#ECECEC"23
(2nd)
style="background:#ECECEC"23
(4th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"25
(5th)
Championship
TeamW1W2W3W4W5W6W7W8W9W10
Counties Manukau style="background:#FFCCCC"0
(6th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"0
(6th)
style="background:#ECECEC"0
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"0
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"0
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"0
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"2
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"2
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"2
(7th)
style="background:#ECECEC"2
(7th)
Manawatu style="background:#D8FFEB"4
(1st)
style="background:#FFCCCC"5
(2nd)
style="background:#ECECEC"5
(2nd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"9
(2nd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"13
(2nd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"18
(2nd)
style="background:#FFCCCC"20
(2nd)
style="background:#FFCCCC"21
(2nd)
style="background:#FFCCCC"22
(2nd)
style="background:#ECECEC"24
(2nd)
North Harbour style="background:#FFCCCC"0
(5th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"4
(3rd)
style="background:#ECECEC"4
(3rd)
style="background:#ECECEC"4
(3rd)
style="background:#ECECEC"4
(4th)
style="background:#ECECEC"4
(5th)
style="background:#ECECEC"6
(5th)
style="background:#ECECEC"6
(5th)
style="background:#ECECEC"6
(6th)
style="background:#ECECEC"6
(6th)
Northland style="background:#FFCCCC"0
(7th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"0
(7th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"1
(6th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"1
(6th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"6
(3rd)
style="background:#ECECEC"6
(3rd)
style="background:#FFCCCC"8
(4th)
style="background:#ECECEC"8
(4th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"10
(4th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"12
(5th)
Otago style="background:#D8FFEB"4
(3rd)
style="background:#FFCCCC"4
(4th)
style="background:#ECECEC"4
(4th)
style="background:#ECECEC"4
(4th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"4
(5th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"5
(4th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"11
(3rd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"15
(3rd)
style="background:#ECECEC"15
(3rd)
style="background:#FFCCCC"20
(3rd)
Southland style="background:#FFCCCC"1
(4th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"1
(5th)
style="background:#ECECEC"1
(5th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"2
(5th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"2
(6th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"2
(6th)
style="background:#ECECEC"4
(6th)
style="background:#ECECEC"4
(6th)
style="background:#D8FFEB"9
(5th)
style="background:#FFCCCC"13
(4th)
Taranaki style="background:#D8FFEB"4
(2nd)
style="background:#D8FFEB"9
(1st)
style="background:#D8FFEB"13
(1st)
style="background:#D8FFEB"18
(1st)
style="background:#ECECEC"18
(1st)
style="background:#D8FFEB"22
(1st)
style="background:#D8FFEB"28
(1st)
style="background:#D8FFEB"33
(1st)
style="background:#ECECEC"33
(1st)
style="background:#D8FFEB"39
(1st)

The table above shows a team's progression throughout the season.
For each week, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall division log position in brackets.
Key:WinDrawLossBye

Regular season

The 2021 Bunnings NPC was originally scheduled to play across ten weeks. The competition started on Friday, August 6, with Manawatu taking on Counties Manukau at Central Energy Trust Arena.[6] On August 18, New Zealand Rugby announced that all rugby in New Zealand would be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] In September it was confirmed the competition schedule would continue from Week 7 of the original draw. Auckland, Counties Manukau, Manawatu, North Harbour, Otago, and Southland would have byes due to covid restrictions.[8] Therefore all rugby matches scheduled between the 20th and 29 August and 3rd to the 5th of September 2021 was postponed.[9] [10]

On 7 October 2021, it was later revealed the Auckland based teams, Auckland, Counties Manukau, and North Harbour would be withdrawn from the competition after being declined its third travel exemption application.[11] A new draw was released for the remainding four weeks of the season. In addition non-competition matches were implemented so that teams that would have otherwise played Auckland region teams don't go two weeks without a match. These matches will not receive competition points.[12]

Week 10

Play-offs

Semi-finals

Premiership

Finals

Premiership

FB 15Ryan Tongia
RW 14Liam Coombes-Fabling
OC 13Bailyn Sullivan
IC 12Gideon Wrampling
LW 11
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Mitch Jacobson
BF 6 Samipeni Finau
RL 5
LL 4 James Tucker
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1 Ayden Johnstone (c)
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
FH 22
FB 23
FB 15Andrew Knewstubb
RW 14
OC 13Leicester Fainga'anuku
IC 12Alex Nankivell
LW 11
FH 10Mitchell Hunt
SH 9
N8 8
OF 7 Anton Segner
BF 6 Jacob Norris
RL 5 Quinten Strange (c)
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
WG 22
CE 23

Statistics

Leading point scorers

No. Player Team Points Average Details
1 172 17.20 2, 30, 34, 0
2 123 12.30 1, 23, 24, 0
3 107 15.29 2, 17, 21, 0
4 97 9.70 3, 17, 16, 0
5 82 10.25 1, 16, 15, 0
6 77 9.63 1, 12, 16, 0
7 77 8.56 2, 23, 7, 0
8 58 7.25 1, 19, 5, 0
9 56 5.60 0, 22, 4, 0
10 55 5.00 1, 13, 8, 0
Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).

Leading try scorers

No. Player Team Tries Average
1 8 0.80
2 7 0.78
3 7 0.64
4 6 0.67
5 5 0.63
6 5 0.50
7 5 0.50
8 4 0.67
9 4 0.67
10 4 0.57
Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).

Points by week

Team12345678910TotalAverage
Auckland352411160000000000000000464023.0020.00
Bay of Plenty142731113336285533320000003337505422225227.7531.50
Canterbury2435252220191916003035264520222420402822824225.3326.89
Counties Manukau21396140000000000000000275313.5026.50
Hawke's Bay19333410363331280034224526411440310028019735.0024.63
Manawatu39212225003119271438271636354731400023922929.8828.63
North Harbour15281460000000000000000293414.5017.00
Northland7541448294819313828001324003337142216729220.8836.50
Otago261910340000142723302413222000252714417020.5724.29
Southland192611310016191451273800003733102413422219.1431.71
Taranaki33194814322655280030233326473500241030218137.7522.63
Tasman27141611482922395114223400002024342224018730.0023.38
Waikato2815433719203922283800263314413733272526126429.0029.33
Wellington5473743263228313233353036160000223427022633.7528.25
Source: Bunnings NPC Fixtures and Results 2021[13]

Tries by week

Team12345678910TotalAverage
Auckland43110000000000000000542.502.00
Bay of Plenty2341534756000000547732314.003.88
Canterbury3443331100444721315329273.223.00
Counties Manukau23010000000000000000241.002.00
Hawke's Bay3351354300517462640039234.882.88
Manawatu3234003332431556460026313.253.88
North Harbour24100000000000000000341.502.00
Northland1826583354002300442424403.005.00
Otago2115000023233212003314192.002.71
Southland1214001127340000441313251.863.57
Taranaki3362337400322465003133244.133.00
Tasman3211853572150000135329263.633.25
Waikato4265335345004226453335343.893.78
Wellington8156333465445100003537294.633.63
ForAgainst
Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).

Sanctions

PlayerTeam Red YellowSent off match(es)
Sam Fischli1 1vs Taranaki and Waikato
Dan Hawkins1 0vs Wellington
Isi Manu1 0vs Taranaki
Hamilton Burr0 2vs Tasman and Bay of Plenty
Pari Pari Parkinson0 1vs Auckland
Julian Savea0 1vs Waikato
Charles Alaimalo0 1vs Bay of Plenty
Teihorangi Walden0 1vs Wellington
Steven Misa0 1vs Tasman
Noah Cooper0 1vs Manawatu
Chris Apoua0 1vs Canterbury
D'Angelo Leuila0 1vs Northland
Flyn Yates0 1vs Otago
Alex Fidow0 1vs Canterbury
Luke Romano0 1vs Wellington
Will Tucker0 1vs Northland
Cortez-Lee Ratima0 1vs Taranaki
Joe Apikotoa0 1vs Canterbury
James Tucker0 1vs Hawke's Bay
Danny Toala0 1vs Waikato
Leicester Fainga'anuku0 1vs Canterbury
Sam Matenga0 1vs Canterbury
Leroy Carter0 1vs Waikato
Cassius Misa0 1vs Northland
Viliami Tosi0 1vs Northland
Blake Hohaia0 1vs Bay of Plenty
Isaac Te Tamaki0 1vs Taranaki
Jayson Potroz0 1vs Otago

Ranfurly Shield

See also: Ranfurly Shield 2020–29.

Pre-season challenges

For the 2021 pre-season, Hawke's Bay accepted Ranfurly Shield challenges from North Otago and Ngāti Porou East Coast.[14] In their first defence on June 30, Hawke's Bay defeated North Otago 85–0 in Napier. The side scored 13 tries to none. It began with a try to Kienan Higgins on debut from a turnover after four minutes. North Otago then conceded a penalty try and lost lock Manulua Taiti to a yellow card. Hawke’s Bay added a further two tries from Jason Long to lead 28–0 after the first quarter. Another two tries in the last eight minutes gave Hawke's Bay a 42-point lead at halftime. Hawke's Bay also gave a debut to All Black family member Sir Brian Lochore's grandson, Frank Lochore.[15]

In Hawke's Bay's second defence of the year they scored 15 tries to win 93–5 against Ngāti Porou East Coast. Hawke's Bay number 8 Gareth Evans opened the scoring off due to lineout maul five minutes into the first half. Hawke's Bay had their second try through Josh Kaifa after some good runs from Anzelo Tuitavuki and Dennon Robinson-Bartlett on either wing, then fullback Danny Toala crossed over to make it 17–0 inside 15 minutes. Kaifa, Toala, Tuitavuki, Lincoln McClutchie and replacement prop Pouri Rakete-Stones all crossed for doubles, with McClutchie kicking nine conversions in a personal tally of 28 points. Ngāti Porou East Coast were coached by former New Zealand international Hosea Gear and scored their only try to hooker Jorian Tangaere in the thirtieth minute.[16]

Notes and References

  1. News: Adjustment to Mitre 10 Heartland Championship bonus points system. Rugby Heartland. 2 September 2016.
  2. Web site: pdf. New Zealand Rugby Union Competition Regulations Handbook 2016. New Zealand Rugby. 1 September 2017. 12 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190712231129/http://files.allblacks.com/legal_and_judicial/NZR_2016_Competitions_Regulations_Handbook.pdf. dead .
  3. Web site: 2010 ITM Cup Competition Structures. Manawatu Rugby Union. 7 August 2010. dead. https://archive.today/20130223161744/http://www.manawaturugby.co.nz/article/1863.html. 23 February 2013. dmy-all .
  4. Web site: ITM Cup Finals schedule. All Blacks. 24 October 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130116061427/http://itmcup.co.nz/itmCupnews/20886/ITM-Cup-Finals-schedule. 16 January 2013. dmy-all .
  5. Web site: Historical Standings. New Zealand Rugby. 1 October 2022.
  6. Web site: Action-Packed Rugby Schedule Ahead With 2021 Domestic Rugby Draws Announced Today. 18 May 2021. 18 May 2021.
  7. Web site: All rugby in New Zealand this weekend cancelled or postponed. 18 August 2021. 21 August 2021. New Zealand Rugby.
  8. Web site: Domestic and Community Rugby to Resume Outside of Auckland. 7 September 2021. 9 September 2021.
  9. Web site: All rugby postponed or cancelled this weekend, following latest Covid update. 24 August 2021. 26 August 2021. New Zealand Rugby.
  10. Web site: Domestic and community rugby to remain on hold. 31 August 2021. 4 September 2021. New Zealand Rugby.
  11. Web site: Bunnings Warehouse NPC to continue without Auckland based teams. 7 October 2021. 7 October 2021. Bunnings NPC.
  12. Web site: Bunnings Warehouse NPC draw confirmed for rest of the season. 12 October 2021. 12 October 2021. Bunnings NPC.
  13. Web site: Historical Fixtures and Results. New Zealand Rugby. 1 October 2022.
  14. Web site: East Coast earn pre-season Shield challenge against Magpies in Napier. Hawke's Bay Today. 2 June 2021. 4 July 2021.
  15. Web site: Old Golds game, but outclassed. Otago Daily News. 1 July 2021. 20 August 2021.
  16. Web site: Ranfurly Shield: Hawke's Bay rack up 90 in fifth defence, against East Coast. Stuff. 24 July 2021. 20 August 2021.