National Provincial Championship

The National Provincial Championship (which for sponsorship reasons, is referred to as Air New Zealand NPC or just simply NPC) is New Zealand's principal domestic rugby union competition. It is held annually, with 27 provincial unions competing in three divisions.

NPC teams, 2005

The NPC divisions for the current 2005 season consist of:

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Division One

• Auckland
• Bay of Plenty
• Canterbury
• North Harbour
• Northland
• Otago
• Southland
• Taranaki
• Waikato
• Wellington

The current champion is Canterbury.

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Bottom placed Northland defeated Division Two champions Nelson Bays and thus remain in Division One.

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Division Two

• Counties Manukau
• East Coast
• Hawke's Bay
• Manawatu
• Marlborough
• Nelson Bays
• North Otago
• Poverty Bay
• Wanganui

The current champion is Nelson Bays, who were defeated in the Division One playoff against bottom placed Northland, and thus remain in Division Two for 2005.

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Poverty Bay were the 2004 Division Three champions and were thus promoted to Division Two.

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Division Three

• Buller
• Horowhenua-Kapiti
• King Country
• Mid Canterbury
• South Canterbury
• Thames Valley
• Wairarapa-Bush
• West Coast

The current champion is Poverty Bay.

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Thames Valley were the bottom placed Division Two team in 2004, and thus were relegated to Division Three.

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