U85kgs National Club Cup draw confirmed for 2023

 The fourth edition of the U85kgs National Club Cup (NCC) is shaping up to be bigger and better this year as popularity of the adult weight restricted grade continues to grow in New Zealand.    

NCC is the country’s only national rugby club competition and in its inaugural year (2020) 19 teams across five provincial unions (PUs) took part.  

Last year 47 teams across 12 PUs competed, while in 2023, 51 teams will represent 13 unions and contest for the title from May 6 with dates of further rounds to be confirmed. 

The participating clubs hail from - North Harbour, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Thames Valley, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Wairarapa Bush, Wellington, Tasman, Canterbury, South Canterbury and Otago.  

Back-to-back champions the Southern Bush Pigs out of Dunedin return after retaining their title against the Auckland University Debt Collectors 21-19 at FMG Stadium in Waikato last year. The match also served as a curtain-raiser for the All Blacks.  

For the first time ever two Heartland PU weight-restricted representative teams, the Thames Valley Sly Foxes and the Wairarapa Bush Clippers, have been included in the Cup as a new initiative to support growth of the grade in NZ’s smaller unions.  

The Cup is currently split into three regions (Northern, Central and Southern) in a knock-out format up until the final meeting where the winning team will be undefeated after six matches.  

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) Participation Development Manager Mike Hester conducted the draw assisted by NZ Barbarians President Craig Glendinning, NCC Ambassador Sir Graham Henry and NZR General Manager Community Rugby Steve Lancaster in Auckland.  

Hester said the initiative was introduced to bring to life all parts of the community game.  

“We saw a lot of value in the U85s community and knew there was a demand. This competition is a way of preserving the eminence of the existing grades as well as supporting growth across Aotearoa,” Hester said.  

“Here we are four years on from when we started in the year we were trying to navigate through COVID-19. It’s very exciting to see the depth and growth of this competition.” 

Sir Graham said NCC is a brilliant way to keep the love of rugby alive.  

“It’s great for young guys who have a love for the game who are perhaps not too serious but serious enough, maybe not big enough in size but are very skillful and gifted,” Sir Graham said.   

“The past four years have been a marvelous transformation with 51 teams in the only national club competition in the country.”  

The first round draw is avaialble by clicking here.