List of New Zealand rugby union teams
This is the list of the main first-class rugby union teams in New Zealand, including national teams, Super Rugby teams, National Provincial Championship teams, and Heartland Championship teams. The list does not include women's teams, local club or school teams, inactive teams, such as the North and South Island teams, or non-geographic representative teams, such as the New Zealand Universities, Marist, or Barbarians sides.
National representative teams
- New Zealand
- Junior All Blacks
- New Zealand Maori
- All Blacks Sevens
- New Zealand U-20
- The Heartland XV
- New Zealand Schools
Super Rugby teams
- Blues
- Chiefs
- Crusaders
- Highlanders
- Hurricanes
North Island unions
Team | Formed | Division | Changes |
---|---|---|---|
Auckland | 1883 | National Provincial Championship | |
Bay of Plenty | 1911 | National Provincial Championship | Split from South Auckland |
Bush | 1890 - 1971 | merged with Wairarapa in 1971 | |
Central Vikings | 1997-1998 | short-term merger of Manawatu and Hawke's Bay | |
Counties Manukau | 1955 | National Provincial Championship | Formerly South Auckland 1926-1955 |
East Coast | 1922 | Heartland Championship | |
Hawke's Bay | 1884 | National Provincial Championship | |
Horowhenua-Kapiti | 1893 | Heartland Championship | |
King Country | 1922 | Heartland Championship | Formerly part of South Auckland 1909-1921 |
Manawhenua | 1924-1933 | short-term merger of Horowhenua and Manawatu | |
Manawatu | 1886 | National Provincial Championship | |
North Harbour | 1985 | National Provincial Championship | |
Northland | 1920 | National Provincial Championship | Formerly North Auckland 1920-1994 |
Poverty Bay | 1890 | Heartland Championship | |
South Auckland | 1909-1921 | Split from Auckland | |
South Auckland | 1926-1955 | Split from Auckland, later became Counties | |
Taranaki | 1885 | National Provincial Championship | |
Thames Valley | 1921 | Heartland Championship | Formerly part of South Auckland 1909-1921 |
Waikato | 1921 | National Provincial Championship | Formerly part of South Auckland 1909-1921 |
Wairarapa | 1886 - 1971 | merged with Bush in 1971 | |
Wairarapa Bush | 1971 | Heartland Championship | Merger with Wairarapa and Bush |
Wanganui | 1888 | Heartland Championship | |
Wellington | 1879 | National Provincial Championship |
South Island unions
Team | Formed | Division | Changes |
---|---|---|---|
Buller | 1894 | Heartland Championship | |
Canterbury | 1879 | National Provincial Championship | |
Mid Canterbury | 1904 | Heartland Championship | Formerly Asburton County 1927-1952 |
Golden Bay-Motueka | 1920-1967 | merged with Nelson in 1967 | |
Marlborough | 1888-2005 | ||
Nelson | 1885-1967 | merged with Golden Bay-Motueka in 1967 | |
Nelson Bays | 1968-2005 | Merger of Golden Bay-Motueka and Nelson | |
North Otago | 1904 | Heartland Championship | |
Otago | 1881 | National Provincial Championship | |
South Canterbury | 1888 | Heartland Championship | |
Southland | 1887 | National Provincial Championship | |
Tasman | 2006 | National Provincial Championship | Merger of Marlborough and Nelson Bays |
West Coast | 1890 | Heartland Championship |
See also
External links
- Heartland Rugby website