{"id":2985,"date":"2017-08-24T13:20:26","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T01:20:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/?p=2985"},"modified":"2017-08-24T16:15:50","modified_gmt":"2017-08-24T04:15:50","slug":"mitre-10-heartland-championship-2017-kicks-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/2017\/08\/24\/mitre-10-heartland-championship-2017-kicks-off\/","title":{"rendered":"Mitre 10 Heartland Championship 2017 kicks off"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Heartland Championship fans will be in for a treat this upcoming season with a number of big names set to turn out alongside provincial stalwarts for another exciting edition of the competition.
\nFormer All Blacks Piri Weepu, Alby Mathewson and Regan King have been named to play for Wairarapa Bush, King Country and Mid Canterbury respectively, bringing international experience to the Heartland Championship.<\/p>\n

New Zealand Rugby\u2019s Head of Provincial Union Rugby Steve Lancaster said the inclusion of these players will add another layer of interest to a competition that holds a special place in the rugby calendar.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Mitre 10 Cup Heartland Championship continues to be a great competition that showcases the depth and breadth of rugby in our country. Year in and year out we are treated to fantastic rugby from these teams and 2017 will be no different,\u201d said Lancaster.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the passion and dedication of these players, coaches, management teams and supporters that speaks volumes about our game. I love watching this rugby,\u201d he said.
\nWanganui will be out to defend their Meads Cup title and are coming off the back of a record breaking season; going unbeaten in 2016 and scoring the most points in one season in the history of the competition.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ll kick off their title defence by hosting their 2016 semi-final opponents Wairarapa Bush.<\/p>\n

The 2016 Lochore Cup winners North Otago will travel up to Horowhenua-Kapiti for their opening match, the two teams settling for a draw in their last encounter.<\/p>\n

Other first round fixtures see East Coast host Thames Valley, King Country play West Coast, Mid Canterbury up against Poverty Bay and a South Island battle between Buller and South Canterbury.<\/p>\n

All first round matches will see a moments silence observed to honour the passing of Heartland Rugby\u2019s most prolific export and trophy name-sake Sir Colin Meads.<\/p>\n

Players will be vying to impress selectors to earn a place in the New Zealand Heartland XV, who will be playing their traditional fixture against New Zealand Marist on 5th November.<\/p>\n

The Heartland XV, in their quest to retain the MacCrae Cup, will again be coached by South Canterbury\u2019s Barry Matthews with Craig Scanlon, co-Coach of the Buller team who played in last year\u2019s Meads Cup final, appointed as Assistant Coach.<\/p>\n

Week One Preview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

BULLER V SOUTH CANTERBURY
\n<\/strong>Saturday 26 August, 2pm at Victoria Square, Westport<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

Played:<\/strong> 32,\u00a01925-2016 |\u00a0Buller wins:\u00a09 | South Canterbury wins: 23<\/span>
\n Last match:<\/strong> Buller 16 South Catnerbury 6, 22.10.16 in Timaru (MCSF)<\/span>
\n Last South Canterbury win:<\/strong> South Canterbury 28 Buller 26, 27.08.16 in\u00a0Timaru (HC)<\/span>
\n Biggest Buller score:<\/strong> 45,\u00a022.09.12 in\u00a0Timaru (HC)<\/span>
\n Biggest\u00a0South Canterbury\u00a0score:<\/strong> 46, 13.07.87 in Timaru<\/span>
\n Biggest margin:<\/strong> South Canterbury by 42 (46-4), 13.07.87 in Timaru<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EAST COAST v THAMES VALLEY<\/strong>
\nSaturday 26 August, 2.30pm at Whakarua Park, Ruatoria<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

Played:<\/strong> 43,\u00a01931-2016 | East Coast wins:\u00a014 |\u00a0Thames Valley\u00a0wins: 25 | Draws: 4<\/span>
\n Last match:\u00a0<\/strong>Thames Valley 50 East Coast 13, 05.09.15 in\u00a0Paeroa (HC)<\/span>
\n Last East Coast win:<\/strong> East Coast 53 Thames Valley 28, 29.09.12 in Paeroa (HC)<\/span>
\n Biggest East Coast score:<\/strong> 56, 28.08.04\u00a0in Te Aroha (NPC)<\/span>
\n Biggest Thames Valley score:<\/strong> 57,\u00a026.08.95\u00a0in Paeroa (NPC)<\/span>
\n Biggest margin:<\/strong> Thames Valley by 56 (56-0),\u00a003.08.88 in\u00a0Hicks Bay\u00a0(NPC)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
HOROWHENUA KAPITI\u00a0v NORTH OTAGO<\/strong>
\nSaturday 26 August, 2.30pm at Levin Domain, Levin<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

Played:<\/strong> 31, 1955-2016 |\u00a0Horowhenua Kapiti\u00a0wins:\u00a016 | North Otago wins: 14 | Draws: 1<\/span>
\n Last match:<\/strong> North Otago 36 Horowhenua Kapiti 36, 10.09.16\u00a0in Oamaru (HC)<\/span>
\n Last Horowhenua-Kapiti win:<\/strong> Horowhenua Kapiti 26 North Otago 22, 19.09.15 in Levin (HC)<\/span>
\n Last North Otago win:<\/strong> North Otago 57 Horowhenua Kapiti 12, 17.10.15 in Levin (LCSF)<\/span>
\n Biggest Horowhenua Kapiti score:<\/strong> 65, 28.08.93 in Levin (NPC)<\/span>
\n Biggest North Otago score:<\/strong> 65, 29.09.01 in Oamaru (NPC)<\/span>
\n Biggest margin:<\/strong> Horowhenua Kapiti by 54 (65-11), 28.08.93 in Levin (NPC)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
KING COUNTRY v WEST COAST<\/strong>
\nSaturday 26 August, 2.30pm at Owen Delany Park, Taupo<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

Played:<\/strong> 14, 1985-2015 |\u00a0King Country\u00a0wins:\u00a08 | West Coast wins:\u00a06<\/span>
\n Last match:<\/strong> King Country 36 West Coast 22, 03.10.15 in Greymouth (HC)<\/span>
\n Last West Coast win:<\/strong> West Coast 27 King Country 21, 01.09.12 in Greymouth (HC)<\/span>
\n Biggest King Country score:<\/strong> 64, 17.09.05 in Taumarunui (NPC)<\/span>
\n Biggest West Coast score:<\/strong> 36, 10.09.11 in Te Kuiti (HC)<\/span>
\n Biggest margin:<\/strong> King Country by 59 (64-5), 17.09.05 in Taumarunui (NPC)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MID CANTERBURY v POVERTY BAY<\/strong>
\nSaturday 26 August, 2.30pm at Ashburton Showground, Ashburton<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

Played:<\/strong> 16, 1988-2015 |\u00a0Mid Canterbury wins: 8\u00a0|\u00a0Poverty Bay\u00a0wins: 8<\/span>
\n Last match:<\/strong> Mid Canterbury 38 Poverty Bay 25, 26.09.15 in Gisborne (HC)<\/span>
\n Last Poverty Bay win:<\/strong> Poverty Bay 8 Mid Canterbury 6, 20.08.11 in Patutahi (HC)<\/span>
\n Biggest Mid Canterbury score:<\/strong> 38, 26.09.15 in Gisborne (HC)<\/span>
\n Biggest Poverty Bay score:<\/strong> 48, 20.09.97 in Gisborne (NPC)<\/span>
\n Biggest margin:<\/strong> Poverty Bay by 32 (48-16), 20.09.97 in Gisborne (NPC)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WANGANUI v WAIRARAPA BUSH<\/strong>
\nSaturday 26 August, 2.30pm at Cooks Gardens, Wanganui<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

Played:<\/strong> 40 ,1971-2016 | Wanganui wins:\u00a024 | Wairarapa Bush wins: 16<\/span>
\n Last match:<\/strong> Wanganui 58 Wairarapa Bush 26, 22.10.16 in Wanganui (MCSF)<\/span>
\n Last Wairarapa Bush win:<\/strong> Wairarapa Bush 21 Wanganui 17, 05.09.09 in Masterton (HC)<\/span>
\n Biggest Wanganui score:<\/strong> 58, 22.10.16 in Wanganui (MCSF)<\/span>
\n Biggest Wairarapa Bush score:<\/strong> 42, 29.07.87 in Wanganui<\/span>
\n Biggest margin:<\/strong> Wairarapa Bush by 38 (42-4), 29.07.87 in Wanganui<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Roll of Honour<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meads Cup ~ Lochore Cup<\/strong>
\n2006<\/strong> Wairarapa Bush ~ Poverty Bay
\n2007<\/strong> North Otago ~ Poverty Bay
\n2008<\/strong> Wanganui ~ Poverty Bay
\n2009<\/strong> Wanganui ~ North Otago
\n2010<\/strong> North Otago ~ Wairarapa Bush
\n2011<\/strong> Wanganui ~ Poverty Bay
\n2012<\/strong> East Coast ~ Buller
\n2013<\/strong> Mid Canterbury ~ South Canterbury
\n2014<\/strong> Mid Canterbury ~ Wanganui
\n2015<\/strong> Wanganui ~ King Country
\n2016<\/strong> Wanganui ~ North Otago<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Heartland Championship fans will be in for a treat this upcoming season with a number of big names set to turn out alongside provincial…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2967,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Mitre 10 Heartland Championship 2017 kicks off\r\nhttp:\/\/wp.me\/p8xFmW-M9","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/m10c.gif?fit=734%2C819&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8xFmW-M9","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2985"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2990,"href":"https:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2985\/revisions\/2990"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bullerrugby.co.nz\/wp2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}