After winning last year’s Bunnings National Provincial Championship title, the whole community is pulling together to help the team do it again.
One of the enduring memories from the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls Bunnings NPC final victory over Hawke’s Bay last year was the sea of supporters flooding onto the field to celebrate after the game.
Moments earlier, Hawke’s Bay had been hot on attack, searching for a try that would have snatched the game in the most dramatic fashion. But the Taranaki defence was resolute, and the jubilation, both on the field and in the stands, was immediate.
On a picture perfect afternoon at Yarrow Stadium, more than 13,500 fans, clad in amber and black, rushed onto the ground to bask in the region’s second ever national provincial title.
For TRFU CEO Mike Sandle, one conversation demonstrated the power of what had happened.
“I was chatting with our flanker Tom Florence in the sheds after the game and spoke about the fans running onto the field and the lasting impact they would have from being there. He replied that he was a young kid who ran onto the field when we won in 2014, and said how the memory had stayed with him.
“It just showed what winning can mean to a community. The players never forget the feeling, but it’s also special for so many more people than just the team.”
That knowledge of how a premiership can impact a whole province is front of mind as the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls chase back-to-back titles this year.
The winning effect
The smaller provinces don’t often win New Zealand’s NPC; it tends to be dominated by larger unions that are home to Super Rugby franchises. Taranaki and Tasman are the only non-Super Rugby unions to have won the competition since 1980 (and have both won twice).
The grassroots feel of a regional side beating the bigger teams and taking out the ultimate honour makes it different.
“We’re a proud regional province and we don’t have a Super Rugby team – the Bunnings NPC is still a really big thing for the provincial regions, and we see that in the enthusiasm of our fans,” Sandle says.
“Anyone who was there last year will never forget the sea of amber and black in the crowd. The players and coaches talked about how they ran out of the tunnel at the start of the game, coming through the smoke and looking up at the terraces and stands packed with local fans, and just how powerful that home crowd feeling was.”
“Our fan base would be the envy of provincial teams across the country,” adds Commercial Manager Jimmy Fastier. “Community is something we’re really aware of, and that includes everyone from the people in stands to our commercial partners, cow donors and season members, and everyone involved in our club game in one way or another.”
The NPC trophy has seen plenty of the Taranaki community for itself in the last few months. It’s been to schools, clubs, rest homes, commercial partner’s offices and more, partly as a thank you for their support, but also just to allow people to enjoy what the team enjoyed.
Junior playing numbers are up on the back of last year, as are season memberships. The TRFU has an ambitious target of topping 1,500 members, and it’s tracking well to hit that goal.
“Memberships start from $40 for five games, and if we host any finals games then they’re free for members. It’s about creating memorable experiences – it’s affordable and fun, and that’s what it should be,” Fastier says.
There is also the option of a FlexiBull membership, with access to any three home games of your choosing.
Members can send kids along to a training run with the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls on September 7, before the team plays Waikato the following day. That weekend also doubles as the 10 year celebration for the 2014 title-winning side, many of whom will be in attendance.
“On the back of last year’s success, there’s a really good vibe in the community,” Sandle says. “There’s a sense of anticipation as we work towards the representative season – people are excited, and so are we.”
On the field
The challenge of backing up after winning a title is huge, but it’s one the side is walking towards. The squad is largely the same as last year, with the most notable exception being the departure of Pita Gus Sowakula to France.
“We’ve really prided ourselves on playing an exciting brand of rugby, with our wingers scoring a lot of tries,” Sandle says. “We’ve now got 17 Super Rugby players, which is more than a whole starting team, and they have experience playing and winning together.”
Taranaki has also been one of the best represented provinces in recent All Black squads, and while those selected for the All Blacks this year may be unavailable for at least parts of the provincial season, it shows local players that the pathway to the very highest level is there.
“We’ve kept squad positions open for players to come through club rugby and make the team. We’ve seen the success of that recently with players like Daniel Rona, Meihana Grindlay and Kaylum Boshier coming through and making the next step into Super Rugby on the back of taking those opportunities.
“The other benefit is those players come back to the provincial squad and can help the next generation of players. We get Super Rugby guys and All Blacks rubbing shoulders with our club players – it’s what’s unique about provincial rugby.”
The season starts on August 9, with a 5.35 kickoff at home on Friday night against Counties Manukau. Afternoon kickoffs are somewhat of a theme this year, particularly at Yarrow Stadium, which Sandle hopes will play into the hands of the community experience.
“Our Matahio Family Zone has been really popular in the last few years, and we’d like to see more of those scenes with kids on the ground too – playing rippa pre-match, forming a guard of honour for players running out and getting onto the field after the game to take photos with players.”
On the back of the success of last year’s sold out Yarrows Centenary Match in the Bread Capital of Manaia, the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls will venture off the beaten track before the season starts once again.
“We’ve partnered with Firstgas to host our last preseason game against Bay of Plenty at the Urenui Sportsground on Friday August 2,” says Fastier.
“It’s a 1pm kick off in a beautiful natural amphitheatre, and it’s just a great way to connect with a smaller community that doesn’t see club rugby, let alone first class footy. After full time, the locals will take to the pitch with Urenui playing Tainui in their annual clash.”
Central Roofing Taranaki Whio
The Central Roofing Taranaki Whio has been labelled as a promising team for a few years now, and that promise is showing signs of bearing fruit.
The side ended a winless run with a gritty victory over North Harbour last year, which was undoubtedly the highlight of the last two years.
“We’ve got some really promising young girls coming through the system,” Sandle says. “We lose some to university when they finish school, and we also lose some experienced women at the other end of their careers, but the heartening thing is seeing the number of talented players we’re producing.
“We have Iritana Hohaia in the Black Ferns now, and both Sacred Heart and New Plymouth Girls’ High have performed really well in inter-school rugby in the last few years. That’s been influenced by the overall rise in women’s rugby across the board.”
Sandle says the team has shown it can be competitive in patches, and the challenge this year is to extend those patches into full games.
“What’s been really great with the women is how well they’ve been supported. The CMK women’s club finals last year was a real carnival atmosphere, and the crowds tend to be a lot more excitable and colourful. There’s a real buzz around women’s rugby and we definitely feel that.”
The Central Roofing Taranaki Whio start their season against Manawatu in Palmerston North on August 11. They play Wellington the following week at The Hub in Hawera, before home games against North Harbour and Otago – the latter as part of a double header with the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls at Yarrow Stadium on August 31.
2024 Bunnings NPC fixtures
9 August v Counties Manukau
Clelands Construction Club Day
Yarrow Stadium, 5.35pm
18 August v Wellington
Sky Stadium, 2.05pm
24 August v Southland
Rugby Park, 7.05pm
31 August v Otago
Family Day presented by TEL
Yarrow Stadium, 2.35pm
8 September v Waikato
2014 Champions Reunion
Yarrow Stadium, 2.05pm
14 September v Bay of Plenty
Tauranga Domain, 2.05pm
20 September v Hawke’s Bay
McLean Park, 7.05pm
25 September v North Harbour
Yarrow Stadium, 5.35pm
29 September v Manawatu
Yarrow Stadium, 4.35pm
6 October v Tasman
Trafalgar Park, 2.05pm