New Zealand Heartland XV

The Heartland XV is one of several New Zealand representative rugby union teams, although it is at a lower level than the All Blacks and the Māori All Blacks. The side is drawn exclusively from players for provincial unions that compete in the Heartland Championship, a nominally amateur domestic competition below the fully professional Mitre 10 Cup.

History
Founded in 1988 and originally known as the New Zealand Divisional XV, it was designed to expose players from Divisions Two and Three in the Air New Zealand National Provincial Championship (NPC) to rugby at a higher level.

As well as playing local and international teams that may visit (such as Ireland and Italy in 2002) the New Zealand Divisional XV also toured Australia, Canada and various Pacific Islands.

Upon the 2006 reorganisation of the NPC into the Air New Zealand Cup and Heartland Championship, the side was revamped into a Heartland-only side and received its current name.

The first team known as the New Zealand Heartland XV side toured the Pacific Islands in 2005 and they played six games (which they won), including matches against Tonga and Fiji. The team then toured Argentina in 2006 and the United States in 2008, beating the Pacific Coast Grizzlies and a USA Select XV. They have subsequently toured Pacific Islands.

Notable past players
Before the advent of professional Super Rugby in 1996 and the later change from three divisions of National Provincial Rugby to the current competition structure it was common for past, future or even current All Blacks to play for the New Zealand Divisional team.

Recent Squads
2019 Heartland XV Squad

2021 Heartland XV Squad

2022 Heartland XV Squad

2023 Heartland XV Squad


 * Denotes non-travelling reserve player

Head coaches

 * Barry Matthews: 2016 and 2017
 * Mark Rutene 2019
 * Nigel Walsh (South Canterbury) 2021-2023

Management team

 * Coll Campbell (Poverty Bay), Team Doctor 2021-2022
 * Jason Hamlin (Whanganui), Assistant Coach 2021-22
 * Tony Harrison (Mid Canterbury), Manager 2021
 * Slade King (King Country), Trainer 2021-2022
 * Miah Nikora, Assistant Coach 2023
 * Shay O’Gorman (Wairarapa-Bush), Assistant Manager 2022
 * Geoff Thompson (South Canterbury), Physio 2021-2022
 * Thomas Zimmerman (Horowhenua-Kapiti), Manager 2022-2023