Today New Zealand Rugby announced the 2022 schedules for the Bunnings Warehouse Farah Palmer Cup and National Provincial Championship.

The Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) again kicks off earlier than the National Provincial Championship (NPC), as it did in 2021 to avoid clashing with the Rugby World Cup that will be held in New Zealand later this year.

Waikato FPC will commence their Premiership title defence of the Farah Palmer Cup at home against Manawatu Cyclones (Saturday 16^th July at 4:35pm), with a venue to be confirmed. Before having a bye in week 2.

Week 3, Waikato FPC, travel to Wellington to face the Pride at Porirua Park (Sunday 31^st July, 2:05pm) before travelling back home to defend the Chiefs Country Cup against Bay of Plenty Volcanix at FMG Stadium Waikato (Saturday 6^th August, TBC). This match will be a part of a double header with Waikato NPC.

The team is back on the road in week 5 to face FPC runners up, Canterbury, in Christchurch in a rematch of last season FPC final at Orangetheory Stadium (Saturday 13^th August, 4:05pm).

After missing out on facing Auckland last season due to COVID restrictions, Waikato will face Auckland at home (with a venue to be confirmed) for their final regular season home game.

The final regular season match will see Waikato FPC making a trip up to Pukekohe to face Counties Manukau Heat at Navigation Homes Stadium (Saturday 27^th August, 2:05pm). The FPC Premiership semi-finals will commence the first weekend of September.  

Waikato’s Bunnings National Provincial Championship (NPC) Premiership title defence kicks off at home with a double header at FMG Stadium Waikato. The day will begin with Waikato FPC hosting Bay of Plenty Volcanix before Waikato NPC face Hawke’s Bay Magpies (Saturday 6^th August, 4:35pm).

Then it is back-to-back road games for Waikato NPC for weeks 2 and 3. Firstly the team travel north to face Northland in Whangarei, Northland Events Centre (Saturday 13^th August, 4:35pm), before facing Counties Manukau in Pukekohe at Navigation Homes Stadium (Friday 19^th August, 7:05pm)

Waikato NPC return home to FMG Stadium Waikato in week 4 to host Manawatu Turbos for Friday night under lights (Friday 26^th August, 7:35pm).  

The Ryan Wheeler Memorial Trophy will be on the line when Waikato NPC travel down to New Plymouth to challenge Taranaki Bulls for the trophy. Taranaki are the current holders of the trophy after a successful challenge in 2021.

Storm weeks return in 2022, with Waikato NPC beginning theirs against Auckland at FMG Stadium Waikato (Friday 9^th September, 7:05pm) as they challenge the visitors for the Stan Thomas Memorial trophy that Auckland are the current holders of.  The mid-week game will see the men from the deep south, Southland Stags, travel up to Hamilton to face Waikato NPC at FMG Stadium Waikato (Wednesday 14^th September, 7:05pm). Waikato NPC storm week ends with a trip south to Dunedin to face Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium (Sunday 18^th September, 2:05pm)

Waikato NPC hit the road again for the last time in the regular season, when they travel to the capital to face Wellington Lions at Sky Stadium (Saturday 24^th September, 4:35pm) in week 8.

The final regular season game for the Waikato NPC side is at home at FMG Stadium Waikato in week 9 against provincial neighbour Bay of Plenty Steamers (Sunday 2^nd October, 4:35). The NPC Premiership semi-finals will commence the second weekend of October.    

Article added: Tuesday 17 May 2022