Amateur rugby competition to be 'Heartland Championship'

New Zealand's amateur provincial rugby competition has been relaunched as the "Heartland Championship", the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) announced today.

The championship, starting on August 19, will involve 12 teams from the old NPC second and third divisions.

Teams will compete in a two-pool competition with two trophies, the Meads Cup and the Lochore Cup, up for grabs.

The cups, named after the two New Zealand rugby legends, Colin Meads and Sir Brian Lochore, had previously been challenge cups in the second and third divisions.

Meads, who played 139 matches for King Country, has given the new name his stamp of approval, saying it perfectly captured the essence of the competition.

"There is a special rugby culture found only in the provincial and rural areas of New Zealand -- this is the heartland of our game and the players involved have a strong love of the game and provincial pride," he said.

Lochore, an All Blacks selector, said the amateur game remained strong in heartland New Zealand.

"The smaller rugby provinces of New Zealand are essential to the game and the people in those areas are very proud of their unions," he said.

"The Heartland Championship gives them the opportunity to support their players and their region."

Pool A
North Otago, East Coast, Wairarapa Bush, Buller, Mid Canterbury and West Coast

Pool B
Poverty Bay, Wanganui, Horowhenua-Kapiti, King Country, Thames Valley and South Canterbury.

- NZPA