Canterbury (National Provincial Championship)

Canterbury
CRFU emblem
UnionCanterbury Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s)Red and Blacks[1]
Founded1879 (1879)
LocationSt Albans, Christchurch, New Zealand
GroundOne New Zealand Stadium (Capacity: 25,000)
CEOTony Smail[2]
CoachAlex Robertson
CaptainBrodie McAlister
Most appearancesRobbie Deans (146)
Top scorerRobbie Deans (1,625)
Most triesPaula Bale (93)
LeagueNational Provincial Championship
20251st
Champions
Team kit
Official website
www.canterburyrugby.co.nz

Canterbury are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1879, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch in the Canterbury region. The team is affiliated with the Crusaders Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are black and red.

Current squad

The Canterbury squad for the 2026 Hilux NPC season is:

2026 Canterbury squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Halfbacks (scrum-halves)

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

(c) denotes the team captain.
Bold denotes internationally capped players.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
  1. ↑ Ainsley's international caps have been for Australia, but he switched allegiance to New Zealand in 2022; so far he has only represented the Māori All Blacks.
  2. ↑ Abbott wasn't named in the original Canterbury squad, but was announced in the side for Round 3.[3]
  3. ↑ Miyake wasn't named in the original Canterbury squad, but was named as a late inclusion in the side for Round 3.[4]
  4. ↑ Latu was named in the original Canterbury squad, but was loaned to Auckland ahead of Round 5.[5]
Source: [6]

Honours

Canterbury have been overall Champions on 15 occasions. Their first title was in 1977 and their most recent title was in 2025. Their full list of honours include:[7][8]

National Provincial Championship First Division
  • Winners: 1977, 1983, 1997, 2001, 2004
Air New Zealand Cup
  • Winners: 2008, 2009
ITM Cup
  • Winners: 2010
ITM Cup Premiership Division
  • Winners: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
Mitre 10 Cup Premiership Division
  • Winners: 2016, 2017
Bunnings NPC
  • Winners: 2025

Current Super Rugby players

Players named in the 2025 Canterbury squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

Player Team
George Bell Crusaders
Finlay Brewis Crusaders
Tahlor Cahill Crusaders
Seb Calder Crusaders
Tom Christie Crusaders
Sam Darry Blues
Braydon Ennor Crusaders
Chay Fihaki Crusaders
Zach Gallagher Hurricanes
Dominic Gardiner Crusaders
Cullen Grace Crusaders
Jamie Hannah Crusaders
Corey Kellow Crusaders
Manumaua Letiu Crusaders
Daniel Lienert-Brown Highlanders
Manasa Mataele Chiefs
Brodie McAlister Chiefs
Dallas McLeod Crusaders
Johnny McNicholl Crusaders
Fletcher Newell Crusaders
Lewis Ponini Crusaders
Ngane Punivai Hurricanes
Jone Rova Hurricanes
Codie Taylor Crusaders
Tamaiti Williams Crusaders

References

  1. ↑ Coughlan, Sam (August 2026). "Defending A New Turf". Rugby News. Allied Press. pp. 68–69. ISSN 3021-2138.
  2. ↑ "Our people". Canterbury Rugby Union. 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  3. ↑ @canterburyrugby; (12 August 2026). "Your team for our first Shield defence at home this Saturday". Retrieved 12 August 2026 – via Instagram.
  4. ↑ "Richie Mo'unga's All Blacks promotion gives Andrew Knewstubb his chance in Canterbury's first Ranfurly Shield defence". The Press. 15 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  5. ↑ @aucklandrugby; (26 August 2026). "All eyez on AKL 👀 your team to take on Bay of Plenty at Eden Park this Friday". Retrieved 27 August 2026 – via Instagram.
  6. ↑ "Your 2026 Canterbury squad for the Hilux NPC announced". Canterbury Rugby (Press release). 16 July 2026. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "2025 Crusaders squad announced". crusaders.co.nz (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  10. ↑ "We're ready to take the handbrake off". Blues (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  11. ↑ "Game Readiness and Maturity Key in 2025 Hurricanes Squad". Hurricanes (Press release). 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  12. ↑ "Ready for Season Opener: Round One Team Naming v Hurricanes". crusaders.co.nz (Press release). 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  13. ↑ "Highlanders name squad for 2025 DHL Super Rugby competition" (Press release). Highlanders. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  14. ↑ "Taukei'aho to make long-awaited return at rugby and rhythms spectacular". Chiefs (Press release). 26 February 2025. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  15. ↑ "Gallagher Chiefs name cohesive 2025 squad" (Press release). Chiefs. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  16. ↑ "Team Naming: Drummond named for 150th Crusaders appearance". Crusaders (Press release). 21 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  17. ↑ "Ruben Love returns to start against Moana Pasifika for Round 4". Hurricanes (Press release). 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
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