New Zealand Rugby announced yesterday the opponents that each team will face in 2023 for the Bunnnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship.

Waikato’s five home games will see them face Otago, Wellington Lions, Counties Manukau Steelers, Canterbury and Taranaki Bulls all at FMG Stadium Waikato. This means Waikato will defend the Ryan Wheeler Memorial trophy against Taranaki Bulls and depending on the confirmed schedule and if Counties Manukau can retain the trophy, Waikato will challenge the Steelers for the Chiefs Country Cup.

The opponents Waikato will face on the road in 2023, will see them travel up State Highway 1 twice to face Auckland and North Harbour while defending the Stan Thomas Memorial trophy and Les Pearce Cup respectively. They will then travel across the Kaimai’s to defend the Nathan Strongman memorial trophy when they face Bay of Plenty Steamers and their final two away fixtures will be against Hawke’s Bay Magpies in Napier and Southland Stags in Invercargill.

Waikato does not currently have a challenge in place for the Ranfurly Shield but if results go Waikato’s way and their away opponents of either Hawke’s Bay Magpies, Southland Stags and North Harbour are successful with their challenges against Wellington Lions then Waikato could potentially challenge for the Ranfurly Shield in 2023.

The above information is only about the opponents that Waikato will face in the Bunnings Warehouse NPC for 2023 with dates and times to be confirmed.

Article added: Tuesday 13 December 2022