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Bunnings NPC
By the numbers: The NPC's best performers of 2024
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Manawatu
Manawatu News
Latest
Watch: Counties Manukau's new flying Fijian wing rips Manawatu for a double
Dumped All Blacks coach Plumtree lands on feet with new side
Brett Cameron's signing creates backline conundrum for Hurricanes
Departing All Black leaves NZ playing 'best rugby of his career'
Aaron Smith continues unbeaten run in NPC as Manawatu beat Otago
Aaron Smith returns to action following six-week match-less spell
Manawatu Matches
Fri 4 Oct, 2024
Fri 1 Aug, 2025
Manawatu Forwards
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Manawatu Backs
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Manawatu Rugby Team
The Manawatu rugby team, often known as the Manawatu Turbos, is a professional rugby team that plays in New Zealand's Bunnings NPC competition. The team is also affiliated with the Hurricanes Super Rugby Pacific franchise.
Read on to discover even more about the Manawatu rugby team. On this page, you'll find a detailed breakdown of the team's history. You'll also find all of their latest results and upcoming fixtures.
The Manawatu rugby union was formed back in 1886. When the National Provincial Championship was born in 1976, the modern day Manawatu rugby team was formed. Since then, the team has won the overall championship on one occasion, in 1980. In addition, the side has also been crowned as the winners of the competition's championship division once, in 2014.
Today, the Manawatu rugby team competes in the championship division of the competition and they play their home games at Central Energy Trust Arena, which has a capacity of 18,000. Fans of the team are known as 'bucketheads' because many of them wear plastic garden buckets that have been cut to shape during matches.
Although they compete in the championship division of the Bunnings NPC, the Manawatu rugby squad is strong. It includes several current and former All Blacks, including Nehe Milner-Skudder, Brett Cameron and Aaron Smith.
In addition to this, the Manawatu rugby squad also includes several Super Rugby Pacific players. This includes Jamie Booth and Brayden Iose, who both represent the Hurricanes.
