2008 Air New Zealand Cup

The 2008 National Provincial Championship was the third season of the National Provincial Championship (known as the Air New Zealand Cup for sponsorship reasons), a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand, since it was reorganised in 2006. Matches started on 31 July 2008, and continued until the final on 25 October 2008.

This season was the third of the expanded competition, which succeeded the First Division of the National Provincial Championship. It started with a 10-week round robin in which each team played against all but three of the others in the competition. This was followed by a knockout playoff involving eight teams, made up of quarterfinals, semifinals and the final.

On 11 August 2008, the New Zealand Rugby Union initially announced that Tasman and Northland would both be relegated from the Air New Zealand Cup after the completion of the 2008 season. Both teams failed to meet criteria which included financial stability, population, player training and development, playing history, and administration. This decision was reversed towards the end of the 2008 season, with Tasman and Northland remaining in the competition for two more years.

Canterbury won their sixth national provincial title by defeating Wellington 7–6 at Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington. It was the third consecutive season that Wellington have finished runners-up.

Standings
The top eight teams in pool play advanced to the quarterfinals.

Table notes

 * Pos = Table position
 * Pld = Played
 * W = Win (worth 4 points)
 * D = Draw (worth 2 points)
 * L = Loss (worth 0 points)
 * PF = For (total points scored)
 * PA = Against (total points scored against)
 * PD = Points difference
 * BP1 = Try bonus point (1 bonus point was awarded to any team that scores four tries or more regardless of win/loss/draw)
 * BP2 = Losing bonus point (1 bonus point was awarded to the losing side if the loss was by 7 points or less)
 * Pts = Progressive points tally

NB:
 * It is possible to receive 2 bonus points in a loss.
 * In the event of a tie on points the ranking of teams is decided by:
 * 1) The winner of the last match between the two provinces if played this season then,
 * 2) Highest points differential then,
 * 3) Most tries scored then,
 * 4) A coin toss.