NPC 2025
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Have to say how pleased I was to read that after weighing everything up NZR have come conclusion that NPC is too important to pathways for rugby in NZ too change. Bloody great!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360776605/work-be-done-new-zealand-rugbys-steve-lancaster-bullish-about-npc -
The NPC is fucking brilliant.
Just don't play the games in cavernous Test venues. Bijou venues are better.
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The NPC is fucking brilliant.
Just don't play the games in cavernous Test venues. Bijou venues are better.
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There are a couple of articles in the newspaper today. One from Paul Cully says that Sky and TVNZ will be sharing broadcasting rights from 2026, so there will be FTA coverage. This agreement is well advanced and unlikely to change after Sky's acquisition of Three. This will also mean a reduction in the value of the broadcasting deal from Sky but should allow more eyes on games, presumably with ads. There is also a mention of making SR clubs declare by the end of the season who has been signed for the following year and how many contracts are available for NPC players.
The second article is more about the future of the NPC including the movement to smaller grounds to reduce match-day costs. Obviously there is only a limited number of afternoon slots available for grounds without adequate lighting.
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Was interested looking at crowds on weekend, seemd to be pretty healthy, looked very good at Southland, we had a pretty good one at the Naki and looked goodat BOP etc. Just got methinking about the comments we have on crowds at NPC, I reckon probably you add all the crowds together for the weekend, it would equal or probably better the number that would attend Super rugby on a weekend in NZ. Probably better most test crowds too.
Not saying it means a hell of a lot, except that interest seems to be there. I do know at Gold club , there what (I consider the ) the non rugby fellas, all seem to discuss the NPC games (obviously the Nakis) more than super games , and probably as much as test matches. -
Was interested looking at crowds on weekend, seemd to be pretty healthy, looked very good at Southland, we had a pretty good one at the Naki and looked goodat BOP etc. Just got methinking about the comments we have on crowds at NPC, I reckon probably you add all the crowds together for the weekend, it would equal or probably better the number that would attend Super rugby on a weekend in NZ. Probably better most test crowds too.
Not saying it means a hell of a lot, except that interest seems to be there. I do know at Gold club , there what (I consider the ) the non rugby fellas, all seem to discuss the NPC games (obviously the Nakis) more than super games , and probably as much as test matches.Was interested looking at crowds on weekend, seemd to be pretty healthy, looked very good at Southland, we had a pretty good one at the Naki and looked goodat BOP etc. Just got methinking about the comments we have on crowds at NPC, I reckon probably you add all the crowds together for the weekend, it would equal or probably better the number that would attend Super rugby on a weekend in NZ. Probably better most test crowds too.
Not saying it means a hell of a lot, except that interest seems to be there. I do know at Gold club , there what (I consider the ) the non rugby fellas, all seem to discuss the NPC games (obviously the Nakis) more than super games , and probably as much as test matches.Let's judge the crowds in week six.
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Good weather always helps, day games in any code on a warm afternoon is awesome
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Was interested looking at crowds on weekend, seemd to be pretty healthy, looked very good at Southland, we had a pretty good one at the Naki and looked goodat BOP etc. Just got methinking about the comments we have on crowds at NPC, I reckon probably you add all the crowds together for the weekend, it would equal or probably better the number that would attend Super rugby on a weekend in NZ. Probably better most test crowds too.
Not saying it means a hell of a lot, except that interest seems to be there. I do know at Gold club , there what (I consider the ) the non rugby fellas, all seem to discuss the NPC games (obviously the Nakis) more than super games , and probably as much as test matches.Let's judge the crowds in week six.
@SouthernMann said in NPC 2025:
Was interested looking at crowds on weekend, seemd to be pretty healthy, looked very good at Southland, we had a pretty good one at the Naki and looked goodat BOP etc. Just got methinking about the comments we have on crowds at NPC, I reckon probably you add all the crowds together for the weekend, it would equal or probably better the number that would attend Super rugby on a weekend in NZ. Probably better most test crowds too.
Not saying it means a hell of a lot, except that interest seems to be there. I do know at Gold club , there what (I consider the ) the non rugby fellas, all seem to discuss the NPC games (obviously the Nakis) more than super games , and probably as much as test matches.Let's judge the crowds in week six.
I agree, but I thought last year was similar mate. Not saying I wouldn't like to see bigger crowds, just trying to look at things realistically. With population, and weather etc, and games live on tv, I still think in a normal weekend the figures would be not all that bad. I know many look worse because they played in big stadiums, but I think up to a point Unions hands are ties, as you need certain facilities to host these games.
I think they need room for seats for season memebrs and especially corporate events, where a good proportion of their money comes from.
Most of our major stadiums hold 30,000, so as I say quite often we got more people live at NPC (or club rugby) than we get at a test!
Just think it interesting. -
@SouthernMann said in NPC 2025:
Was interested looking at crowds on weekend, seemd to be pretty healthy, looked very good at Southland, we had a pretty good one at the Naki and looked goodat BOP etc. Just got methinking about the comments we have on crowds at NPC, I reckon probably you add all the crowds together for the weekend, it would equal or probably better the number that would attend Super rugby on a weekend in NZ. Probably better most test crowds too.
Not saying it means a hell of a lot, except that interest seems to be there. I do know at Gold club , there what (I consider the ) the non rugby fellas, all seem to discuss the NPC games (obviously the Nakis) more than super games , and probably as much as test matches.Let's judge the crowds in week six.
I agree, but I thought last year was similar mate. Not saying I wouldn't like to see bigger crowds, just trying to look at things realistically. With population, and weather etc, and games live on tv, I still think in a normal weekend the figures would be not all that bad. I know many look worse because they played in big stadiums, but I think up to a point Unions hands are ties, as you need certain facilities to host these games.
I think they need room for seats for season memebrs and especially corporate events, where a good proportion of their money comes from.
Most of our major stadiums hold 30,000, so as I say quite often we got more people live at NPC (or club rugby) than we get at a test!
Just think it interesting. -
@Dan54 it's not rocket science. Games (especially day games) in the centres that don't have a Super Rugby base pull decent crowds - especially early in the comp when all teams seasons are alive.
@KiwiMurph said in NPC 2025:
@Dan54 it's not rocket science. Games (especially day games) in the centres that don't have a Super Rugby base pull decent crowds - especially early in the comp when all teams seasons are alive.
Yep I realize that Kiwi M , I not knocking any other comp. merely saying that I think the crowds aren't bad. I genuinely think the feeling for grassroots type stuff doesn't get enough credit. What are do you live in? In the Naki, I genuinely feel at least as many people are more into NPC rugby. You can feel it just talking to people.
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@KiwiMurph said in NPC 2025:
@Dan54 it's not rocket science. Games (especially day games) in the centres that don't have a Super Rugby base pull decent crowds - especially early in the comp when all teams seasons are alive.
Yep I realize that Kiwi M , I not knocking any other comp. merely saying that I think the crowds aren't bad. I genuinely think the feeling for grassroots type stuff doesn't get enough credit. What are do you live in? In the Naki, I genuinely feel at least as many people are more into NPC rugby. You can feel it just talking to people.
@Dan54 much of has got to with whom your flagship team
In Southland , Ta$man,Hawkes Bay ,Taranaki,Bop,Manawatu and Northland it’s fair to say the rugby team is the flagship team for the province hence the locals get in behind their provincial colours
Not to mention they don’t get a lot of big super rugby games consistently
The recent NZ Māori game in Whangarei showed what sort of turnout you get
Same cant be said for some of the bigger regions that get a steady diet of Super rugby
Auckland is a tough sell at the minute up against the Warriors. -
@Dan54 much of has got to with whom your flagship team
In Southland , Ta$man,Hawkes Bay ,Taranaki,Bop,Manawatu and Northland it’s fair to say the rugby team is the flagship team for the province hence the locals get in behind their provincial colours
Not to mention they don’t get a lot of big super rugby games consistently
The recent NZ Māori game in Whangarei showed what sort of turnout you get
Same cant be said for some of the bigger regions that get a steady diet of Super rugby
Auckland is a tough sell at the minute up against the Warriors.@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2025:
@Dan54 much of has got to with whom your flagship team
In Southland , Ta$man,Hawkes Bay ,Taranaki,Bop,Manawatu and Northland it’s fair to say the rugby team is the flagship team for the province hence the locals get in behind their provincial colours
Not to mention they don’t get a lot of big super rugby games consistently
The recent NZ Māori game in Whangarei showed what sort of turnout you get
Same cant be said for some of the bigger regions that get a steady diet of Super rugby
Auckland is a tough sell at the minute up against the Warriors.The Wahs, Auckland FC, 2 Super Rugby sides so yeah, good luck to the Auckland NPC side. The Blues are finding it tough enough in this market let alone anything below, something people south of the Bombay hills wouldn't understand.
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@Dan54 much of has got to with whom your flagship team
In Southland , Ta$man,Hawkes Bay ,Taranaki,Bop,Manawatu and Northland it’s fair to say the rugby team is the flagship team for the province hence the locals get in behind their provincial colours
Not to mention they don’t get a lot of big super rugby games consistently
The recent NZ Māori game in Whangarei showed what sort of turnout you get
Same cant be said for some of the bigger regions that get a steady diet of Super rugby
Auckland is a tough sell at the minute up against the Warriors.@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2025:
@Dan54 much of has got to with whom your flagship team
In Southland , Ta$man,Hawkes Bay ,Taranaki,Bop,Manawatu and Northland it’s fair to say the rugby team is the flagship team for the province hence the locals get in behind their provincial colours
Not to mention they don’t get a lot of big super rugby games consistently
The recent NZ Māori game in Whangarei showed what sort of turnout you get
Same cant be said for some of the bigger regions that get a steady diet of Super rugby
Auckland is a tough sell at the minute up against the Warriors.Yep and understand that, not knocking those areas etc, all I saying is NPC is alive and well.
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Was interested looking at crowds on weekend, seemd to be pretty healthy, looked very good at Southland, we had a pretty good one at the Naki and looked goodat BOP etc. Just got methinking about the comments we have on crowds at NPC, I reckon probably you add all the crowds together for the weekend, it would equal or probably better the number that would attend Super rugby on a weekend in NZ. Probably better most test crowds too.
Not saying it means a hell of a lot, except that interest seems to be there. I do know at Gold club , there what (I consider the ) the non rugby fellas, all seem to discuss the NPC games (obviously the Nakis) more than super games , and probably as much as test matches.Let's judge the crowds in week six.
@SouthernMann said in NPC 2025:
Was interested looking at crowds on weekend, seemd to be pretty healthy, looked very good at Southland, we had a pretty good one at the Naki and looked goodat BOP etc. Just got methinking about the comments we have on crowds at NPC, I reckon probably you add all the crowds together for the weekend, it would equal or probably better the number that would attend Super rugby on a weekend in NZ. Probably better most test crowds too.
Not saying it means a hell of a lot, except that interest seems to be there. I do know at Gold club , there what (I consider the ) the non rugby fellas, all seem to discuss the NPC games (obviously the Nakis) more than super games , and probably as much as test matches.Let's judge the crowds in week six.
Yeah, I reckon if you added up all numbers from this round, it might equal the Blues opening match only. Smaller stadiums tend to make the crowds look larger. Auckland needs to follow Wellingtons lead in that regard.
