Today New Zealand Rugby announced the Bunnings Warehouse National Provincial Championship (NPC) schedule for the upcoming 2024 season.

Waikato’s Bunnings NPC campaign kicks off with a double header at FMG Stadium Waikato where both Waikato NPC & FPC sides take on Bay of Plenty. Bay of Plenty are the current holders of the Nathan Strongman Memorial trophy and will put that trophy on the line when they travel across the Kaimais for a Saturday afternoon 4.45pm kick-off.

Week one is followed by two away trips north up State Highway 1 when the Mooloos take on Counties Manukau Sunday 18 August at 4.35pm followed by North Harbour the following Sunday on the 25^th August at 4.35pm, where Waikato will do battle for the Les Pearce Cup, which North Harbour currently holds from their 2023 victory.

After back-to-back road trips we kick off the first of our three match ‘storm-week’ when Auckland travels south. Auckland will challenge Waikato for the Stan Thomas Memorial; the trophy is currently held by Waikato have beating them at Bell Park last season. Like our previous fixtures this game kicks off at 4.35pm on Saturday 31^st August. That will be another big afternoon at FMG Stadium Waikato with a double header on the cards with the FPC side also playing Auckland earlier in the day.

Wednesday mid-week rugby returns to FMG Stadium Waikato in 2024, when we play host to Northland Taniwha in what will be our first kick off under lights with a 7.05pm kick off.

To wrap up the ‘storm-week’, week 5 will see Waikato travel down to Taranaki to do battle with the 2023 Champions and current holders of the Ryan Wheeler Memorial on Sunday 8 September at 2.05pm.

Weeks six and seven see our Mooloo men return to Hamilton for back-to-back home games for the second time this season. Waikato finish off their regular season home matches vs last year’s beaten finalists Hawkes Bay (Saturday 14 September, 7.05pm) and Tasman Mako a week later on 21^st September at 4.35pm.

The regular season wraps up in the deep south with matches vs Southland Stags on Sunday 29^th September at 2.05pm and Canterbury a week later, Saturday 5^th October at 7.05pm.

A standout feature for our 2024 campaign sees us with 7 afternoon kick-offs and two double headers where we host Bay of Plenty and Auckland in both the Bunnings NPC & Farah Palmer Cup on the same afternoon.

 The Bunnings National Provincial Championship quarter finals will commence on Friday 11^th October.  

Full Waikato Bunnings Warehouse NPC Draw

Week 1: Waikato v Bay of Plenty, Saturday 10^th August. 4.35pm Kick-off. FMG Stadium Waikato

Week 2: Waikato v Counties, Sunday 18^th August. 4.35pm Kick-off. Pukekohe

Week 3: Waikato v North Harbour. Sunday 25^th August. 4.35pm Kick-off. Albany

Week 4: Waikato v Auckland. Saturday 31^st August. 4.35pm Kick-off. FMG Stadium Waikato

Week 4: Waikato v Northland. Wednesday 4^th September. 7.05pm Kick-off. FMG Stadium Waikato.

Week 5: Waikato v Taranaki. Sunday 8^th September. 2.05pm Kick-off. New Plymouth

Week 6: Waikato v Hawkes Bay. Saturday 14^th September. 7.05pm Kick-off. FMG Stadium Waikato.

Week 7: Waikato v Tasman. Saturday 21^st September. 4.35pm Kick-off. FMG Stadium Waikato.

Week 8: Waikato v Southland. Sunday 29^th September. 2.05pm Kick-off. Invergarcill

Week 9: Waikato v Canterbury. Saturday 5^th October. 7.05pm Kick-off. Christchurch.

Article added: Monday 04 March 2024