User:Soundabuser/NZrugby

Rugby union is the unofficial national sport of New Zealand. Rugby, as it is generally referred to by Kiwis, is an integral part of New Zealand culture. The national team, the All Blacks are the most feared team in international rugby.

History
Rugby union

All Blacks
see also: All Blacks

The All Blacks are the most famous and successful team in the history of international rugby. As of May 2006, the All Blacks have a record of 296 wins, 17 draws and 91 losses out 404 matches played. They remain the benchmark that other teams compare themselves. To date, the major rugby playing nations of Scotland, Ireland and Argentina have yet to defeat the All Blacks in a test match.

Super 14
see also: Super 14 and Super 14 franchise areas.

The Super 14 is an international provincial competition featuring teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The competition, governed by SANZAR, was formed in 1996 as Super 12 after the game turned professional. The current format is five teams from both New Zealand and South Africa and four teams from Australia. Each team plays each other team once in a round robin format followed by a knockout finals series featuring the top four finishers.

New Zealand is represented by the following franchises: Canterbury Crusaders, Auckland Blues, Wellington Hurricanes, Waikato Chiefs and Otago Highlanders. New Zealand teams have dominated the Super 12/14 winning all but two of the ten titles decided to date. The Crusaders are the most successful franchise having won 5 titles in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2005. The Blues are the only other New Zealand team to have captured the title, having won in 1996, 1997 and 2003. The ACT Brumbies, from Australia, are the only team from outside New Zealand to have won a title.

NPC
The National Provincial Championship (NPC) is the premier domestic competition in New Zealand rugby. The competition, started in 1976, is organised over two divisions with 26 teams competing.