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KEY POINTS:
Wellington kickoff their 2009 Air NZ Cup rugby competition on July 30 with a Ranfurly Shield defence against Otago.
This year's competition will see a full round-robin format with a number of "local derby" matches scheduled for afternoon starts to give travelling fans time to get to and from the games.
These include Northland v Auckland (round 1), Bay of Plenty v Waikato (round 2), Auckland v Bay of Plenty (round 3), Canterbury v Otago (round 7), Auckland v North Harbour (round 8) and Auckland v Counties Manukau (round 12).
Many of the key provincial match-ups will be played on the traditional Saturday night, including Auckland v Canterbury (round 2), Wellington v Auckland (round 4) Wellington v Canterbury (round 5), Waikato v Hawke's Bay (round 6) and Auckland v Waikato (round 13).
Some matches played on the same day as All Blacks tests in New Zealand and Australia (August 22, September 12 and September 19) have been brought forward so that fans will have the opportunity to watch both.
The competition kicks off on July 30 July and ends with the final on November 7.
- NZPA
