The 2016 Heartland Championship, known as the 2016 Mitre 10 Heartland Championship for sponsorship reasons, was the eleventh edition of the Heartland Championship, a rugby union competition involving the twelve amateur rugby unions in New Zealand. The tournament included a round-robin stage in which the twelve teams played eight games each and then the top four advanced to the Meads Cup semifinals, while fifth to eighth advanced to the Lochore Cup semifinals. In both of these knockout stages the top seeds (first and fifth) played at home against the lowest seeds (fourth and eighth), the second highest seeds (second and sixth) played at home against the third highest seeds (third and seventh) and the final had the higher seed play at home against the lower seed.
Law changes The New Zealand Rugby Union decided to implement new law changes for the Heartland Championship for 2016. These law changes involved a new points scoring system: 8 pts for a penalty try (no conversion kick required); 6 pts for a try; 2 pts for a penalty, conversion or drop goal.
Teams
The 2016 Heartland Championship was contested by the following teams: Team Super Rugby partner Hometown Home stadium CapacityBullerCrusadersWestportVictoria Square5,000East CoastHurricanesRuatoriaWhakarua Park3,000Horowhenua-KapitiHurricanesLevinLevin Domain6,500King CountryChiefsTaupōOwen Delany Park20,000Mid CanterburyCrusadersAshburtonAshburton Showgrounds5,000North OtagoHighlandersOamaruWhitestone Contracting Stadium7,000Poverty BayHurricanesGisborneMore FM Rugby Park18,000South CanterburyCrusadersTimaruFraser Park12,000Thames ValleyChiefsPaeroaPaeroa Domain3,000Wairarapa BushHurricanesMasterton Trust House Memorial Park10,000WanganuiHurricanesWanganuiCooks Gardens15,000West CoastCrusadersGreymouth Rugby Park6,000
Ranfurly Shield challenges
Three Heartland Championship teams, Thames Valley, King Country and Wanganui challenged Waikato for the coveted Ranfurly Shield. Thames Valley last challenged for the Ranfurly Shield in 2014 against Counties Manukau (losing 68–0), whereas both King Country and Wanganui last challenged for it in 2012 against Taranaki (losing 67–16 and 51–7, respectively).
The first challenge came from Thames Valley in June, when the Swamp Foxes succumbed 83–13 to Waikato. In July the holders retained their Shield in a 55-to-nothing victory against King Country. The last Heartland Championship challenge for 2016 saw Waikato defeat Wanganui 32–12 in Cambridge.
Standings
Team1Wanganui 8800362110+25260382South Canterbury8701324162+16271363Buller8602258190+6851304Wairarapa Bush 8602240174+6642305Mid Canterbury8503278198+8061276King Country 8422236170+6641257Poverty Bay 8305296268+2862208North Otago8224230246−1651189Horowhenua-Kapiti8215224260−36411510West Coast 8206188400−212301111Thames Valley 8017158324−16612512East Coast8008166458−292213
Meads Cup qualification Lochore Cup qualification
Regular season The schedule of fixtures was confirmed on 1 March 2016.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Finals
Semifinals Meads Cup
Lochore Cup
Finals Meads Cup
Lochore Cup
See also
Hanan Shield competed for by Mid Canterbury, North Otago and South Canterbury Rundle Cup played between Buller and West Coast New Zealand Heartland XV Ranfurly Shield 2010–2019 2016 Mitre 10 Cup
References
External links Official website of the Heartland Championship