Farah Palmer Cup 2026: twelve teams, two pools, and it starts Saturday

The Farah Palmer Cup starts on Saturday, and it looks different this year.

Twelve teams, down from thirteen, split into two pools of six. Five rounds inside your own pool, then semi-finals and finals for both titles. Taranaki Whio have moved to the Northern Regions Development Competition.

The two pools

Premiership: Auckland Storm, Bay of Plenty Volcanix, Canterbury, Counties Manukau Heat, Manawatū Cyclones, Waikato.

Championship: Hawke's Bay Tui, North Harbour Hibiscus, Northland Kauri, Otago Spirit, Tasman, Wellington Pride.

One thing worth understanding, because it is unusual: there is no promotion or relegation in 2026. Both pools reset. Placements were decided on structural changes and minimum standards rather than last season's results, which is why Hawke's Bay find themselves in the Championship. A normal promotion and relegation model starts in 2027.

When it happens

| Round | Date | |---|---| | 1 | 29 and 30 August | | 2 | 5 September | | 3 | 13 September | | 4 | 19 September | | 5 | 26 September | | Semi-finals | 3 and 4 October | | Grand Final | 10 October |

Round one

Saturday 29 August opens with Manawatū Cyclones v Bay of Plenty Volcanix at Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North, the first of the season's double-headers, with the Turbos playing North Harbour afterwards.

Also Saturday: Otago Spirit v Wellington Pride at Forsyth Barr Stadium, paired with Otago v Waikato in the NPC. And Hawke's Bay Tui v North Harbour Hibiscus.

Sunday 30 August: Canterbury v Auckland Storm at Rugby Park in Christchurch, 2.05pm, and it is free entry.

The sixth fixture, Northland Kauri against Tasman, we could not confirm a venue or time for. If you know it, tell us and we will add it.

The double-header idea

More than half the FPC matches this season are played alongside an NPC fixture. That is deliberate. NZR's Carl Moon put it plainly: "Double-headers lift the matchday environment, with fans having the opportunity to watch the best of women's and men's provincial rugby in one day."

One ticket, two games, and a women's match played in front of a crowd that came early rather than a ground filling up afterwards. It is the simplest good idea in the calendar.

What to watch

Round two is the JJ Stewart Trophy defence. Auckland Storm travel to Waikato at FMG Stadium Waikato, a rematch of last season's Premiership semi-final. Waikato are the reigning Premiership champions after beating Canterbury 19-13 in last year's final.

Canterbury are coached by Solomona Paraki and have named a 43-player squad. They play at the new One NZ Stadium for the first time in round three against Waikato.

North Harbour Hibiscus, under Scott Collins, have named what is reported as their first all-local squad.

One practical note for supporters

Every provincial union has to publish its playing 23 at 10am each Friday of the season. So round-one teams land this Friday morning, 28 August.

And if you are anywhere near Christchurch on Sunday afternoon, Canterbury against Auckland costs nothing to walk into.