The 2026 Hilux NPC has reached knockout rugby. Eight provincial sides entered quarter-final weekend with one simple rule: win and the season continues; lose and it's over.
The first quarter-final is already in the books, with Northland beating Tasman 26–21 in Whangārei on Friday night. Three more matches remain across the weekend, including an Auckland fixture at North Harbour Stadium and a Sunday showdown between Canterbury and Waikato in Christchurch.
It arrives at the end of a record-breaking regular season. New Zealand Rugby reported 645 tries across the round robin, an average of 61.6 points per match, making 2026 the highest-scoring regular season in NPC history. More than 300,000 supporters also attended matches across the first ten rounds.
2026 Hilux NPC quarter-final fixtures and results
All times are New Zealand local time.
- Northland 26–21 Tasman — Friday 9 October, Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei.
- North Harbour v Taranaki — Saturday 10 October, 2:35pm, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland.
- Otago v Hawke's Bay — Saturday 10 October, 4:05pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
- Canterbury v Waikato — Sunday 11 October, 1:35pm, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch.
For supporters watching from home, the 2026 competition has been available through Sky Sport, while matches have also been streamed free on TVNZ+. Check the broadcasters' current listings for the exact channel or stream for each fixture.
Northland 26–21 Tasman: the first semi-finalist is set
Northland are the first team through to the 2026 semi-finals after edging Tasman 26–21 at Semenoff Stadium. Tasman started strongly, but the Taniwha recovered and made their home quarter-final count.
The result also ended Tasman's season despite a remarkable individual campaign from winger Kyren Taumoefolau, who had already broken the NPC single-season try record during the round robin. Northland now get to watch the rest of the weekend knowing their place in the final four is secure.
North Harbour v Taranaki
For Auckland-based fans, this is the easiest quarter-final to get to in person. North Harbour host Taranaki at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with a semi-final place on the line.
Knockout rugby tends to narrow the margins quickly. A side that may have lived through an uneven ten-round campaign only needs to be better for 80 minutes now. That makes this kind of home playoff exactly the sort of fixture where crowd involvement can matter more than it did during the regular season.
Otago v Hawke's Bay
Forsyth Barr Stadium gets the second Saturday quarter-final as Otago host Hawke's Bay. Otago have spent much of the season among the competition's strongest sides, while Hawke's Bay arrive with the kind of provincial-rugby pedigree that makes them difficult to dismiss in a one-off game.
The indoor conditions in Dunedin remove one of the variables that often shapes October rugby elsewhere. Instead, both teams get a fast surface and a controlled environment — a useful recipe in a season that has already produced more scoring than any previous NPC round robin.
Canterbury v Waikato
The last quarter-final takes place on Sunday at One NZ Stadium. Canterbury host Waikato at 1:35pm, with the final semi-final position up for grabs.
Canterbury have already beaten Waikato during the 2026 regular season, winning 36–14 in September, but finals rugby resets the equation. Waikato also showed their attacking threat late in the round robin, and one poor afternoon is enough to end even the strongest season.
There is extra significance around the venue too. The new One NZ Stadium is hosting its first NPC finals campaign, giving Canterbury the chance to turn a new home into a genuine playoff advantage.
How the NPC playoffs work
The top eight teams from the regular season qualify for the finals. The quarter-finals are seeded, with the higher-ranked side hosting: first plays eighth, second plays seventh, third plays sixth and fourth plays fifth.
After the quarter-finals, the remaining teams are ranked again according to their original regular-season positions. The highest-ranked remaining side hosts the lowest-ranked remaining side in one semi-final, while the other two survivors meet in the second. That means there is no fixed bracket all the way to the final — the matchups depend on who survives this weekend.
The 2026 grand final is scheduled for the weekend of 24–25 October.
Why this finals series is worth following
The NPC can sometimes sit in the shadow of Super Rugby and the international calendar, but this season has made a strong case for provincial rugby on its own terms. Crowds have risen, streaming numbers have grown, and the rugby itself has delivered a record level of scoring.
It is also one of the competitions where the connection between team and place is still unusually obvious. Northland, North Harbour, Otago, Hawke's Bay, Canterbury, Waikato and the rest are not abstract franchises. They represent regions, local grounds, club systems and supporters who often have a direct connection to the players and communities involved.
If you are new to the competition and want the bigger picture, read our guide to the 2026 Hilux NPC. And for another piece of provincial-rugby history from this season, see our guide to Counties Manukau's Ranfurly Shield win.
Who makes the final four?
Northland are already there. By Sunday afternoon, three more sides will have joined them and the 2026 Hilux NPC will be down to four.
For a competition built around regional pride, that is when the stakes become very simple: one province moves a step closer to the title, and another starts thinking about next year.