Canterbury are through to the Semi Finals of the NPC after an almighty scare against Counties Manukau. The visitors came into the match on the back of a 5 game win streak and after 40 minutes, led 15-5 with the upset firmly in view.

The home side worked their way back into the game in the 2nd half and after 80 minutes, the game was tied 15-15. Overtime ensued and it was Canterbury who scored through Chay Fihaki in the 86th minute. He also kicked a 50 metre penalty kick to give his side an 8 point buffer and ultimately the win 23-15.

Bay of Plenty are the 2nd side into the NPC Semi Finals after defeating Tasman 27-7.

Winger Kele Lasaqa who has been a revelation this season, scored their first try of the afternoon in the 46th minute when he raced down the right touchline, outpacing the cover defence to score his 5th try in only his 6th match.

The Steamers win sets up a showdown with Otago next weekend.

Waisake Salabiau scored his first try in the NPC for Waikato in their final round must-win clash against Northland.

The 21 year old winger crossed in the 46th minute, finishing off a linebreak in the left corner.

Both sides came into the match with 5 wins and a finals spot up for grabs. The match remained tight right up until the final whistle.

The win sealed Waikato's spot in the finals, taking 7th position while the Taniwha miss out, finishing 9th.

Kele Lasaqa scored yet another try for Bay of Plenty, bringing his tally to 4 tries in his 4 NPC matches and maintaining his 100% strike record.

A loose pass from the Waikato backline resulted in Lasaqa booting the ball downfield and with no one to match his pace, he recovered the ball and ran the rest of the way untouched.

The Steamers too good for the Mooloos 41-5.

Coming off their first loss of the season and loss of the Ranfurly Shield, Canterbury were determined to return to their winning ways. They travelled to Whangarei to face Northland and led for all of 77 minutes, until the home side scored to draw level 19-19.

Manasa Mataele scored in the 68th minute. He cleaned up a short kick 40 metres out, beat 2 defenders and outpaced a third for his 4th try of the season.

Otago have claimed the Ranfurly Shield with a stirring 38-36 win. It’s their first win over Canterbury in a shield game since 1948.

The win also ends Canterbury’s unbeaten run, the home side enjoying a perfect campaign up until this match.

Joseva Tamani started at Lock where he has played in every match this season. It was another big performance, scoring a try in the 25th minute and making the most carries in the game with 16. A tough 22 metres gained, 2 linebreaks, 3 defenders beaten and defensively 14 tackles, 2 dominant tackles and 2 turnovers won.

Otago are set for a real crack at the title this season and look likely to finish with the shield and take 2nd place.

Bay of Plenty recorded a big win over the Turbos in Manawatu on Sunday afternoon.

Rookie winger Kele Lasaqa, in only his 2nd match scored 2 tries starting in the 5th minute finishing off a backline movement in the right corner before scoring a superb solo effort in the 27th minute when he powered through a would-be tackle then cutting back in-field to score his 3rd try in only his 2nd game.

Despite his skinny frame, he's proven to be deceptively strong and has a great ability to beat defenders.

He finished the afternoon with 65 metres from 7 carries, 3 linebreaks, 3 defenders beaten and a couple of tackles.

After two straight losses, Taranaki bounced back with a win over Hawkes Bay 38-24.

The match remained close for the first 55 minutes with the Bulls hanging on to a 2 point lead 14-12 before 3 unanswered tries from the home side blowing the Magpies off the park.

Vereniki Tikoisolomone scored in the 62nd minute, finishing off some brilliant work in the lead up with the ball going through several hands before the Cakaudrove native touched down in the left corner for his 5th try of the season.

Also in this match for Taranaki, Prop Marika Parker made his first appearance of the season from the bench and Leone Nawai also entered the game in the 70th minute.

After losing their first 5 games of the season, Counties have bounced back with 2 straight wins, this time over a helpless Southland side 64-10.

Number 8 Hoskins Sotutu scored his 3rd try of season, finishing off a backline movement in the 50th minute.

Canterbury remain undefeated after posting their 7th straight win, this time over Tasman in a a thrilling encounter.

Winger Chay Fihaki scored a superb try just before halftime, flying high above David Havili to post his 2nd 5 pointer of the season.

Otago move into 2nd place on the NPC ladder with only a few rounds remaining after beating heavyweights Taranaki 20-18.

Winger Jona Nareki was there to finish off a try in the 36th minute, his 4th 5 pointer of the season.

Kele Lasaqa made his official NPC debut for the Steamers in their "Battle of the Bay" against the Magpies.

With 7 minutes left on the clock, he took an offload and with no where to go, cut back inside squeezing through several defenders to run it in under the posts allowing Bay of Plenty to draw level and ultimately take the match into golden point.

However Hawkes Bay won the game in extra time with a drop goal from fly-half Lincoln McClutchie. Final score 24-21

Lasaqa made the most metres in the match with 104, had a match high 4 defenders beaten and made 2 linebreaks to add to his 5 pointer.

Esi Komaisavai scored his 2nd NPC try on Saturday for Wellington.

The nippy halfback snuffed out an attacking movement by the Magpies in the 68th minute to run the best part of 70 metres to score.

Wellington's title defence isn't going as expected with a 2 win, 4 loss record halfway through the season.

Komaisavai started on the bench and has played every match since his debut in round 2.

North Harbour Hooker Penaia Cakobau scored a stunning try in the closing minutes of their loss to the Mako.

Channelling his inner-winger, he ran 50 metres, evading a couple of defenders and showed great footwork and pace to score his first try in the NPC.

Cakobau has played every match so far this season but is yet to taste victory with North Harbour who have lost every match including Saturday afternoon's 19-43 loss to Tasman.

Canterbury are still yet to taste defeat in 2025 after an impressive 26-7 win on the road against Hawkes Bay.

Winger Chay Fihaki was prominent in the match, scoring a try and kicking 3 conversions.

He also made the most metres in the match with 88 metres from 14 carries, 4 linebreaks and a match high 7 defenders beaten.

Fellow Fijian Manasa Mataele also crossed for a 5 pointer in the 32nd minute.

Esi Komaisavai was handed his first starting jersey at NPC level and he didn't disappoint, scoring his maiden NPC try for the Lions in the 34th minute of their match against Otago.

The Bau native was impressive in his starting debut and in the 34th minute, scurried over from close range, evading a couple of defenders to score in the left corner.

Otago caused the upset of the weekend in the NPC by beating Wellington 46-41.

Despite the wet conditions, both teams scored some stunning tries but it was the visitors who came away with the points.

Lock Joseva Tamani set up Jona Nareki for a try in the 52nd minute after throwing a "precision" pass to the unmarked winger.

A heartbreaking loss for Counties Manukau on Sunday afternoon, losing 26-27 to Waikato thanks to an 80th minute penalty goal.

Steelers winger Peniasi Malimali scored his first try of the season in the 35th minute when he powered through a couple of defenders from 10 metres out.

Number 8 Hoskins Sotutu also got across the line after a tap and run from close range, powering over for his first try of the season.

Prop Emosi Tuqiri made his debut for Counties, coming off the bench in the 69th minute.

Taranaki are the early season favourites after a commanding 50-8 dismantling of Auckland on Saturday night.

Winger Vereniki Tikoisolomone scored his 3rd try in as many matches, the Cakaudrove native scoring in each of their first 3 games.

Fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens came away with 3 try assists while halfback Leone Nawai also set up the first try.

Joseva Tamani scored his first try for Otago in the 28th minute of their loss to Hawkes Bay.

The home side trailed 0-17 before the Fijian Drua flanker ran into a gaping whole from the back of a lineout, beating the fullback for a great try.

The try was quickly followed up by a Jona Nareki 5 pointer, finishing off a linebreak in the left corner.

Otago kept within reach and stayed in the fight but ultimately couldn't get the job done, losing 21-27.

Wellingon's promising young halfback Esi Komaisavai made his NPC debut in their round 2 clash against Waikato, coming off the bench in the 43rd minute to help his side to victory over Waikato.

On Sunday, Prop Harold Rounds will come off the bench in what will be his maiden NPC match too, against Counties Manukau.

Jone Rova was the hero for Canterbury, striking in the 69th minute to seal a thrilling 19–15 victory over Auckland.

The nuggety centre chased down a clever kick, diving on it ahead of the cover defence before bouncing to his feet and charging the rest of the way to score. He also forced a couple of crucial turnovers late.

The win keeps Canterbury unbeaten after two rounds, sitting second on the ladder.

Taranaki stay on top of the NPC ladder after a 46–24 Round 2 win over North Harbour.

Wingers Taniela Rakuro and Vereniki Tikoisolomone both found the line.

Rakuro latched onto a slick offload and burned down the left wing to bag his first NPC try.

Tikoisolomone sealed the deal in the 74th minute, making it two tries from two rounds.

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens was put in a 5-star performance in his 50th NPC appearance.

He set up all 3 of Taranaki's tries, first in the 7th minute throwing the last pass for Vereniki Tikoisolomone, He broke through on a kick return in the 20th minute, turning it back for Josh Jacomb to score before slicing through the defence early in the 2nd half before throwing a Fijian-style offload for Adam Lennox to score under the posts.

In trying conditions the Bulls looked far more polished and came away with a 23-3 win over the Taniwha.

Taniela Rakuro made his debut for Taranaki in the Ranfurly Shield match against Thames Valley, delivering a performance to remember.

The explosive winger from Nadroga-Navosa crossed the line five times, equalling the record for most tries in a single match for Taranaki—a feat previously achieved by Mark Robinson (1997), George Loveridge (1913), and David Vesty (1971).

Rakuro, who has 23 Super Rugby caps with the Fijian Drua, dedicated the performance to his village back in Fiji. The match ended in a dominant 97–0 win for Taranaki at Manaia Domain.

Fellow Fijian winger Vereniki Tikoisolomone also made his mark, scoring two tries and setting up several others in a commanding all-round display from the home side.

2023 NPC Champions Taranaki have signed Fijian Drua speedster Taniela Rakuro for the upcoming Bunnings NPC season.

The Bulls were actively in the market for an impactful winger given Kini Naholo has been ruled out for the season.

“We’ve built this team around our own, and I don’t often look out of region,” said Head Coach Neil Barnes. “But when you lose a player like Kini, you have to find someone who brings similar impact. Taniela’s a class finisher with all the traits we value in a Taranaki player. He’s physical, hard-working, and team-first. We’re thrilled to bring him in.”

Former Fijian Drua Prop Jone Tiko will line up for the Southland Staggs in this year's Bunnings NPC.

Tiko played 2 matches in his debut season last year with the Mako after leaving the Drua.

The announcement was made via social media.

Southland finished last season in 12th position with a 3-7 record.