Lions 2026 NPC Schedule

The Wellington Lions will face arch-rivals Hawke’s Bay Magpies on Sunday 2 August in their season National Provincial Championship opener, which also marks their first game at Hnry Stadium, formerly Sky Stadium. After playing all their home games at Porirua Park in 2025, the Lions will return to Hnry Stadium for all five of their home fixtures this season, including matches against North Harbour, Counties Manukau, Northland, and Waikato.

2026 will mark the competition’s 50th season of provincial rugby. For half a century, it has been a cornerstone of New Zealand’s sporting identity, showcasing fierce rivalries, unforgettable moments, and providing a pathway for players who have gone on to represent the country at the highest level. Round One of the NPC will be celebrated as the Heritage Round, recognising the players and teams who have proudly worn their provincial union jerseys over the years.

The NPC has seen renewed interest in recent years due to the quality of play and the strength of teams across the competition. Sky NZ figures show that during the regular season, over 1.34 million New Zealanders tuned in to the NPC on Sky Sport and Sky Open, a 19 percent increase on the 2024 season. NPC matches will be broadcast on Sky Sport and TVNZ, offering fans live coverage, expert commentary, and additional insights, with further details to be announced in due course.

The competition will run across ten weekends of round-robin play, with all 14 teams represented in a single points table. The top eight teams will progress to the play-offs. In the quarterfinals, the highest-ranked teams will host (1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v 5), followed by the semi-finals the next weekend (1 v 4, 2 v 3) to determine the finalists.

The final will be hosted by the highest-ranking qualifier on Saturday 24 October, 20206.