The 2023 Farah Palmer Cup season is the 17th season of the competition. The regular season ran from 15 July to 27 August, with the playoffs running from 2 to 9 September.

2023 Farah Palmer Cup season
CountriesNew Zealand New Zealand
Date15 July – 9 September 2023
ChampionsAuckland
Runners-upCanterbury
PromotedNorthland
RelegatedWellington
Matches played41
Top point scorerSelica Winiata (84 points)
(Manawatū)
Top try scorerAngelica Vahai (12 tries)
(Auckland)
Official website
www.provincial.rugby/farah-palmer-cup/
← 2022
2024 →

Auckland upset Canterbury to win the Premiership final, it was their first victory over Canterbury since 2017 and their first national title since 2015.[1][2] Northland beat Manawatū to win their first title in the Championship final and were promoted to the Premiership for the 2024 season.[3][4]

Format

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The Farah Palmer Cup standings are sorted by a competition points system. Four points are awarded to the winning team, a draw earns two points, whilst a loss amounts to zero points. Unions can also win their side a respectable bonus point. To receive a bonus point, they must score four tries or more, or lose by seven points or less.[5] Each team is placed on their total points received. If a tiebreaker is necessary, when two or more teams finish on equal points, the union who acquired more competition points against the other tied team(s) gets placed higher. In the case that separation is still not made, the winner of the head-to-head result between the teams will get rights to be ranked above.[6] This seeding format was only implemented for the 2020 competition.

The regular season consists of two types of matches. Each union play home or away games against each team from their division, making a total of six competition games during the regular season for each union in the Premiership pool, and five regular season games for those in the Championship pool.[7]

Standings

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Premiership

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Canterbury 6 5 0 1 268 123 +145 6 1 27
2 Waikato 6 5 0 1 150 93 +57 3 0 23
3 Auckland 6 4 0 2 195 118 +77 3 2 21
4 Hawke's Bay 6 3 0 3 150 242 −92 4 1 17
5 Counties Manukau 6 3 0 3 199 134 +65 3 0 15
6 Bay of Plenty 6 1 0 5 101 246 −145 2 1 7
7 Wellington 6 0 0 6 122 229 −107 2 2 4
Source: [citation needed]

Championship

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Manawatū 5 5 0 0 252 78 +174 5 0 25
2 Northland 5 4 0 1 192 67 +125 5 1 22
3 Otago 5 3 0 2 159 113 +46 4 1 17
4 Tasman 5 2 0 3 135 142 −7 3 1 12
5 Taranaki 5 1 0 4 41 272 −231 1 0 5
6 North Harbour 5 0 0 5 68 175 −107 0 1 1
Source: [citation needed]

Regular season

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Week 1

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15 July 2022 Hawke's Bay 32–31 Auckland Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park, Hasting  
12:05pm Try: Khalia Awa   21'
Denise Aiolupotea   25'
Teilah Ferguson   42'
Leah Tuhi   54'
Con: Krysten Cottrell (3/4)   22', 43', 55'
Pen: Krysten Cottrell (2/2)   40', 70'
Try: M.Puckett   28'
Princess Elliot   31'
A. Vahai   34'
M. Kataoka   68'
Cheyenne Tuli   73'
Con: F. Bloomfield (1/3)   29'
Sophie Fisher (2/2)  68', 73'
Pen: Sophie Fisher(0/1)
Cards: Cristo Tofa   16' to 26'
15 July 2022 Canterbury 58–29 Wellington Rugby Park, Christchurch  
12:05pm Try: K. Wright-Akeli   12'43'
Winnie Palamo   15'
Martha Mataele   29'
Marcelle Parkes   37'40'
Hayley Hutana   48'
Atlanta Lolohea   52'57'
K. Simpson   80'
Con: Isabella Waterman (0/3)
Hayley Hutana(4/7)  38', 40', 53', 58'
Try: J. McGregor   9'22'
S. Filipo   18'
A. Schwencke   61'
Con: A. Landon-Lane(2/3)  10', 23'
T. Ruaporo (0/2)
Cards: A. Schwencke   36' to 46'
15 July 2022 Bay of Plenty 0–50 Waikato Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua  
2:05pm Try: M. Paraone   31'61'
C. Wilson-Jenkins   40'74'
C. Hohepa   51'
G. Houpapa-Barrett   70'
L. Ieremia   77'
Con: S. Wood(1/2)  40'
S. Bayler (2/4)   62', 72'
Pen: S. Wood(3/3)  15', 15', 23'

Bye: Counties Manukau, Championship Teams

Week 2

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22 July 2023 Waikato 27–24 Canterbury St. Paul's Collegiate, Hamilton  
2:05pm Try: C. Wilson-Jenkins   17'
V. Makea   40'80'
M. Anderson   43'
Con: S. Bayler (1/3)   44'
S. Wood(1/1)  82'
Pen: S. Wood(1/1)  85'
Try: K. Wright-Akeli   11'62'
L. Bayfield   26'
Martha Mataele   57'
Con: Isabella Waterman (2/4)   12', 58'
22 July 2023 Counties Manukau 51–5 Bay of Plenty Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe  
2:05pm Try: J. Kolose   10'50'72'
S. To'a   17'28'
C. Leuta   23'40'
K. Enosa-Taifau   46'
L. Samuelu   80'
Con: S. To'a (3/6)   17', 24', 51'
V. Subritzky-Nafatali(0/2)
Try: S. Williams   75'
Con: K. Raki (0/1)
22 July 2023 Tasman 28–34 Otago St. Paul's Collegiate, Hamilton  
7:05pm Try: A. Ulutupu   15'
C. Dixon   39'
F. Solomona   55'
S. Pauaraisa   61'
Con: C. Siataga (1/4)   62'
Pen: C. Siataga (2/2)   32', 76'
Try: K. Wright-Akeli   11'62'
L. Bayfield   26'
Martha Mataele   57'
Con: Isabella Waterman (2/4)   12', 58'

Bye: Hawke's Bay, Championship Teams

Week 3

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29 July 2023 Canterbury 42–12 Bay of Plenty Christchurch Rugby Park  
29 July 2023 Tasman 26–21 North Harbour Trafalgar Park  
29 July 2023 Hawke's Bay 10–14 Waikato Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park  
29 July 2023 Otago 41–0 Taranaki Whitestone Contracting Stadium  
29 July 2023 Manawatū 34–28 Northland Central Energy Trust Arena  
30 July 2023 Wellington 20–53 Counties Manukau Hutt Recreation Ground  

Bye: Auckland

Week 4

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4 August 2023 Taranaki 10–61 Tasman Yarrow Stadium  
5 August 2023 Auckland 61–19 Bay of Plenty Colin Maiden Park  
5 August 2023 Waikato 13–5 Counties Manukau St Paul's Collegiate  
5 August 2023 Northland 42–20 Otago Northland Events Centre  
6 August 2023 North Harbour 9–57 Manawatū Windsor Park  
6 August 2023 Wellington 22–33 Hawke's Bay Hutt Recreation Ground  

Bye: Canterbury

Week 5

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11 August 2023 Counties Manukau 10–37 Auckland Navigation Homes Stadium  
12 August 2023 Bay of Plenty 37–7 Wellington Tauranga Domain  
12 August 2023 Northland 67–0 Taranaki Kaikohe RFC  
12 August 2023 Hawke's Bay 14–84 Canterbury Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park  
12 August 2023 Otago 37–12 North Harbour Forsyth Barr Stadium  
13 August 2023 Manawatū 46–14 Tasman Central Energy Trust Arena  

Bye: Waikato

Week 6

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19 August 2023 North Harbour 19–31 Taranaki Onewa Domain  
19 August 2023 Canterbury 33–17 Counties Manukau Apollo Projects Stadium  
19 August 2023 Otago 27–31 Manawatū University of Otago Oval  
19 August 2023 Tasman 6–31 Northland Lansdowne Park  
20 August 2023 Bay of Plenty 28–35 Hawke's Bay Whakatane Rugby Park  
20 August 2023 Auckland 25–15 Waikato Colin Maiden Park  

Bye: Wellington

Week 7

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26 August 2023 Auckland 24–27 Canterbury Eden Park  
26 August 2023 Counties Manukau 63–26 Hawke's Bay Navigation Homes Stadium  
26 August 2023 Otago 39–13 North Harbour Forsyth Barr Stadium  
27 August 2023 Waikato 31–29 Wellington FMG Stadium Waikato  
27 August 2023 Tasman 45–20 Taranaki Trafalgar Park  

Bye: Bay of Plenty

Play-offs

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Premiership

Semi-finals Final
      
Waikato 22
Auckland 29
Canterbury 27
Auckland 39
Canterbury 59
Hawke's Bay 29

Championship

Semi-finals Final
      
Manawatū 73
Tasman 10
Manawatū 29
Northland 32
Northland 29
Otago 19

Semi-finals

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Premiership Semi-finals


2 September Waikato 22–29 Auckland FMG Stadium Waikato  
3 September Canterbury 59–29 Hawke's Bay Christchurch Rugby Park  

Championship Semi-finals

2 September Manawatu 73–10 Tasman Central Energy Trust Arena  
2 September Northland 29–19 Otago Northland Events Centre  

Finals

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Premiership Final

9 September Canterbury 27–39 Auckland Christchurch Rugby Park  

Championship Final

10 September Manawatu 29–32 Northland Central Energy Trust Arena  

JJ Stewart Trophy

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The JJ Stewart Trophy is a trophy based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies. The holding union must defend the trophy in challenge matches, and if a challenger defeats them, they become the new holder of the trophy.

Canterbury started the season as holders of the trophy and as such, were obligated to place the trophy up for challenge in all of their regular season home games.

References

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  1. ^ Julian, Adam (14 September 2023). "Maama Vaipulu soaring high for Auckland". Provincial Rugby. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  2. ^ van Royen, Robert (10 September 2023). "Auckland upset Canterbury in Farah Palmer Cup final to snap long title drought". Stuff. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  3. ^ Julian, Adam (13 September 2023). "Farah Palmer Cup 2023 Wrap Up - Highlights". www.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  4. ^ Julian, Adam (10 September 2023). "Northland headed for Premiership in 2024". Provincial Rugby. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Adjustment to Mitre 10 Heartland Championship bonus points system". Rugby Heartland. 2 September 2016.
  6. ^ "SEMI-FINALISTS DECIDED IN THE FARAH PALMER CUP" (pdf). New Zealand Rugby. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  7. ^ "2020 FARAH PALMER CUP DRAW RELEASED". All Blacks. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
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