The 2017 Mitre 10 Cup season is the 12th season of New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition since it turned professional in 2006. The regular season begins on August 17, with the 2016 Championship winners North Harbour hosting a game against Otago. It will involve the top fourteen rugby unions of New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, the competition is known as the Mitre 10 Cup and it will be currently the second season under the lead sponsor. The winner of the Championship will be promoted to the Premiership, the 7th placed Premiership team will be relegated to the Championship.
Standings
Standings progression
Regular season
The 2017 Mitre 10 Cup plays across nine weeks with every team playing one Wednesday night fixture in a double-up round where they play twice that week. The competition starts on Thursday August 17, with North Harbour taking on Otago at QBE Stadium, in a repeat of the previous seasons Championship Division final. The opening round will also see a repeat of the Premiership final with Tasman against current champions Canterbury.[1]
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Bay of Plenty vs Southland, Rotorua International Stadium, Wednesday 20 September
Otago vs Auckland, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, Thursday 21 September
Manawatu vs Northland, Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North, Friday 22 September
North Harbour vs Cantebury, QBE Stadium, Albany, Saturday 23 September
Waikato vs Wellington, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, Saturday 23 September
Hawkes Bay vs Taranaki, McLean Park, Napier, Saturday 23 September
Bay of Plenty vs Counties Manukau, ASB Baypark Stadium, Tauranga, Sunday 24 September
Tasman vs Southland, Trafalgar Park, Nelson, Sunday 24 September
Week 7
Northland vs Otago, Toll Stadium, Whangarei, Wednesday 27 September
Taranaki vs Tasman, Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, Thursday 28 September
North Harbour vs Hawke's Bay, QBE Stadium, Albany, Friday 29 September
Southland vs Manawatu, Rugby Park, Invercargill, Saturday 30 September
Auckland vs Bay Of Plenty, Eden Park, Auckland, Saturday 30 September
Cantebury vs Waikato (RS), AMI Stadium, Christchurch, Saturday 30 September
Wellington vs Otago, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, Sunday 1 October
Counties Manukau vs Northland, ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe, Sunday 1 October
Week 8
Tasman vs North Harbour, Lansdowne Park, Blenheim, Wednesday 4 October
Manawatu vs Counties Manukau, Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North, Thursday 5 October
Cantebury vs Taranaki (RS), AMI Stadium, Christchurch, Friday 6 October
Otago vs Bay Of Plenty, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, Saturday 7 October
Northland vs Hawkes Bay, Toll Stadium, Whangarei, Saturday 7 October
Southland vs Wellington, Rugby Park, Invercargill, Saturday 7 October
Tasman vs Auckland, Trafalgar Park, Nelson, Sunday 8 October
Waikato vs North Harbour, FMG Stadium Waikato, Sunday 8 October
Week 9
Taranaki vs Manawatu, Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, Wednesday 11 October
Wellington vs Northland, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, Thursday 12 October
Auckland vs Cantebury, Eden Park, Auckland, Friday 13 October
Bay of Plenty vs Waikato, ASB Baypark Stadium, Tauranga, Saturday 14 October
Otago vs Southland, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, Saturday 14 October
Counties Manukau vs Tasman, ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe,Saturday 14 October
North Harbour vs Taranaki, QBE Stadium, Albany, Sunday 15 October
Hawkes Bay vs Manawatu, McLean Park, Napier, Sunday 15 October
Statistics
Leading point scorers
| No. | Player | Team | Points | Average | Details |
| 1 | Unattached | Unattached | 0 | 0.0 | 0 t, 0 c, 0 p, 0 d |
Source: mitre10cup.co.nz/Stats
Leading try scorers
| No. | Player | Team | Tries | Average |
| 1 | Unattached | Unattached | 0 | 0.0 |
Source: mitre10cup.co.nz/Stats
Points by week
Tries by week
Sanctions
| Player |
Team |
 Red |
 Yellow |
Suspended for match(es): |
|---|
| Unattached |
Unattached | 0 | 0 |
vs. Unattached |
Ranfurly Shield
Pre-season challenges
December 2016, Canterbury accepted Ranfurly Shield challenges from both Wanganui and Mid Canterbury after it was confirmed that several offers were received from Mitre 10 Cup and Heartland Championship unions. Wanganui will travel to Christchurch and play at AMI Stadium, while the Shield will go on the road for a challenge against Mid-Canterbury which will be played at the Ashburton Showgrounds.[2]
In the first challenge, Canterbury beat Wanganui 71−5 in Christchurch, after running in 10 tries with 10 uncapped players.[3] Canterbury's win ensured them their 133rd successful Shield defence. Captain and halfback Jack Stratton scored the opening try in the 10th minute, before four more first-half tries resulted in the lead out to 36−5 at the break. Also early in the half, a yellow card was awarded to Wanganui prop Viki Tofa, for a high tackle on flanker Billy Harmon. Debutant first-five eighth Brett Cameron kicked 17 points in the match, while hooker Nick Werahiko scored a double. Wing Ngane Punivai impressed with his power and speed. Midfielder Timoci Seruwalu scored the visitors' only try late in the first half, when he powered over the line on the back of a close scrum.[4] Wanganui veteran Peter Rowe retired after the loss with 112 games.
The late pre-season match saw the current holders take on Mid Canterbury, with the opposition losing all 13 of their Ranfurly Shield challenges, with eight of the defeats against Canterbury. Canterbury went on to win another successful defence 69–7. Having led 33–0 at halftime, the defending Mitre 10 Cup champions went on to run in eleven tries to one and beat the Heartland Championship side at the Ashburton Showgrounds.[5] Former New Zealand under-20s World Cup winner Josh McKay was one of four Canterbury players to make their debut in the match, with himself and outside back Nigel Gibb, who beat four defenders on his way to the line, scoring tries in the blowout win. Wing Marshall Suckling and hooker Nathan Vella scored doubles in the win also.[6]
| Canterbury |
71–5 |
Wanganui |
Try: Stratton 10' c
Maitland 15' c
Nel 25' c
Werahiko (2) 28' c, 56' c
Suckling 31' m
Dunshea 47' c
Waqanibau 66' c
Alfeld 70' c
Makene 75' c
Con: Cameron (7/8) 11', 16', 26', 29', 48', 57', 66'
Hart-Strawbridge (2/2) 70', 76'
Pen: Cameron (1/2) 2'
|
Preview
Report |
Try: Seruwalu 39' m
Con: Whale (0/1)
Drop: Clare (0/1)
|
| Canterbury |
69–7 |
Mid Canterbury |
Try: Brown 4' c
Sanders 11' c
Cameron 18' c
Suckling (2) 26' m, 40' c
Vella (2) 44' c, 55' c
McKay 52' c
Gibb 58' m
Waqanibau 61' m
Dalzell 75' m
Con: Cameron (4/5) 5', 12', 19', 40'
McKay (3/6) 45', 53', 56'
|
Preview
Report |
Try: Sau 73' c
Con: Kjestrup (1/1) 74'
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Squads
Northland R.U |
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| Forwards | |
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Taranaki R.F.U |
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| Forwards | |
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| Backs | |
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Wellington R.F.U |
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| Forwards | |
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| Backs | |
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References
External links
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