New Zealand Rugby has released the official draws for the Bunnings Warehouse NPC and Bunnings Warehouse FPC Premiership. 

The new Bunnings Warehouse NPC format, featuring all 14 teams playing for one title for the first time since 2010, kicks off on Friday 5 August. The new format was announced in February and sees teams placed into two pools made up of teams with seedings based on the previous season's standings. Odd-numbered teams will be in one pool, and even number teams will be in the other with four crossover matches.  

The Steamers kick-start their season with an away matchup vs Wellington at Sky Stadium on Sunday 7 August. They return home the following week for their 2022 home debut vs Taranaki on Sunday 14 August at the Tauranga Domain.  

Wellington finished one point ahead of the Steamers last season in the Premiership, while Taranaki ran riot in the Championship, winning 8 of 10 games and taking out the Championship Final 32 -19 vs Otago. 

The Steamers have five home games in 2022 including back-to-back games in Week 8, where they play Hawke's Bay on Saturday 24 September and Northland on Wednesday 28 September.  

Meanwhile, the Bunnings Warehouse FPC Premiership kicks off at 12.05 pm on Saturday 16 July, with Wellington playing Canterbury at Porirua Park in Wellington. All Bunnings Warehouse NPC and FPC matches will be broadcast live and exclusive on Sky.  

The Volcanix will host three home games throughout their season. Two of their three games will be Volcanix/Steamers double-headers on 14 August vs Counties Manukau and 28 August vs Canterbury, respectively. 

The Volcanix finished 6th in the 2021 FPC Premiership competition after a challenging season with injuries to senior and leading players. They will look to improve upon last year's performance in 2022. 

All games will be hosted in Tauranga this year after the unfortunate announcement that Rotorua International Stadium will be unable to host games in 2022. Despite the disappointing news, it is still fantastic to have the prospect of packed crowds returning to Bay of Plenty rugby games this season. 

Tauranga City Council, Manager Venues and Events, Nelita Byrne says “we’re delighted to host these games in Tauranga Moana – and what a great way to kick-off the season with the announcement of two Steamers and Volcanix double headers.” 

 “We can’t wait to see our community dust off their supporter jerseys and come together around the rugby field this winter,” adds Byrne. 

Bay of Plenty Volcanix 2022 Farah Palmer Cup Draw

Round One: BYE

Round Two: vs Manawatu, Sunday 24th July, 12.05pm, Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North

Round Three: vs Auckland, Saturday 30th July, 2.05pm, venue TBC, Tauranga

Round Four: vs Waikato, Saturday 6th August, time TBC, FMG Stadium, Hamilton

Round Five: vs Counties Manukau, Sunday 14th August, 11.35am, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga*

Round Six: vs Wellington, Saturday 20th August, 11.35am, SKY Stadium, Wellington

Round Seven: vs Canterbury, Sunday 28th August, 11.35am, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga*

Bay of Plenty Steamers 2022 Bunnings Warehouse NPC Draw

Round One: vs Wellington, Sunday 7th August, 4.35pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington

Round Two: vs Taranaki, Sunday 14th August, 2.05pm, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga*

Round Three: vs Auckland, Sunday 21st August, 2.05pm, Eden Park, Auckland

Round Four: vs Counties Manukau, Sunday 28th August, 2.05pm, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga*

Round Five: vs Otago, Sunday 4th September, 2.05pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Round Six: vs North Harbour, Saturday 10th September, 4.35pm, North Harbou Stadium, North Shore

Round Seven: vs Southland, Sunday 18th September, 2.05pm, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga

Round Eight (Storm Week): vs Hawke’s Bay, Saturday 24th September, 2.04pm, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga

vs Northland, Wednesday 28th September, 4.05pm, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga

Round Nine: vs Waikato, Sunday 2nd October, 4.35pm, FMG Stadium, Hamilton

*Double Header games

All Bunnings Warehouse NPC and FPC matches will be broadcast live and exclusive on Sky.  

Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse - to view the full draw click here 

Bunnings Warehouse NPC - to view the full draw click here 

Article added: Wednesday 18 May 2022