NPC Team Of The Season

Join Archie Wilson as he provides his 2026 NPC Team of the Season.

Prop | Josh Fusitua

Auckland co-captain Josh Fusitua has become one of the most respected props in the country over the past couple of years, and this NPC season showed exactly why. Despite his side’s disappointing season, he was still quality in all facets of his game and certainly earned his spot in this team.

Hooker | Eli Oudenryn

A few hookers had big seasons, and several names stood out when picking this side. However, for mine, Eli Oudenryn was the standout of them all in his eight games with Tasman, ranking in the 99th percentile for turnovers won and metres gained while also dotting down for four tries of his own.

Prop | Mason Tupaea

Heading into the playoffs, Mason Tupaea has been a stalwart of Waikato’s pack and has really led with his play on the field. He has got stuck into a mountain of work this season, ranking above the 89th percentile for tackles, dominant tackles, carries and metres carried among players in his position.

Lock | Hunter Morrison

Hunter Morrison flew out of the gates, much like his Hawke’s Bay team, and looked like an MVP candidate, showing flashes of immense talent. Morrison did cool off a bit towards the back end of the regular season, but his play was so good that he was able to ink a deal with the Hurricanes ahead of 2027.

Lock | Frank Lochore

Morrison’s teammate Frank Lochore is the kind of operator who allows the young lock to flourish, getting stuck into a huge amount of work throughout the season. He was elite as a lineout ace in both attack and defence, while also making an eye-watering 146 tackles on the year.

Flanker | Sean Withy

Speaking of eye-watering tackle counts, Southland’s captain and best player, Sean Withy, was an absolute machine in the contact area this season. Making 182 tackles is an immense achievement, and he was dynamic in most other areas around the paddock too.

Flanker | Lucas Casey

Lucas Casey was tipped to be one of New Zealand’s best young talents, and after this NPC season, that promise has certainly been cemented. He has been dynamic on attack, scoring the second-most tries in the competition while also putting up some big-time running metres and defenders-beaten numbers.

No. 8 | Nikora Broughton

This was a two-horse race between Nikora Broughton and Christian Lio-Willie. However, I ultimately went with Broughton, who has been one of the most dynamic weapons in the competition, regardless of his team’s disappointing season.

Broughton is a tackle-breaking machine who puts up some of the biggest running metres numbers, but he doesn’t shy away from the hard work either.

Halfback | Folau Fakatava

It’s become a yearly tradition for Folau Fakatava to look like one of the best players in the country and get talked up as Cam Roigard’s back-up, as he flat-out dominates for the Magpies.

He essentially leads all halfbacks in just about every important metric, while also providing his own flair around the park and breaking open many games.

First Five | Rivez Reihana

Reihana, the commander-in-chief of the most successful Northland team in a long time, is a shoo-in for the best first five in the 2026 NPC regular season. He led the competition in points while adding new elements to his game and showing he’s more than just a game manager.

Midfield | Jake Te Hiwi

Jake Te Hiwi has been one of the competition’s most potent ball carriers all season. He has recorded 100 carries so far this season, while also ranking among the leading tackle breakers in his position, with 43.

Midfield | Jone Rova

Similarly, Jone Rova has been a constant threat for Canterbury and has shown his versatility by playing both second five and centre throughout the season. Rova has been the guy Canterbury turn to for making the hard metres, gaining 393 this season while also providing a try-scoring punch, with five tries so far in 2026.

Wing | Rory Taylor

Rory Taylor has had one of the best NPC rookie seasons I can remember. The 24-year-old has made himself a mainstay for North Harbour with his performances across all 10 games this campaign.

He is a certified baller when given time and space, often wreaking havoc against opposition wingers. He’ll no doubt be one to watch over the next couple of years.

Wing | Kyren Taumoefolau

Maybe the MVP of the whole season, Kyren Taumoefolau has been a freak of nature all season long for the Mako. Last weekend, his second four-try haul of the season allowed him to shatter the NPC single-season try-scoring record, taking his tally to 18.

He has not only been a danger when the try line is in sight, but also a terror from anywhere on the park, making the most metres in the competition with 1,008. He also leads all outside backs in defenders beaten and line breaks.

Fullback | Samuel Nemec-Vial

There were three names who could have taken this spot, with Jacob Ratamaitavuki-Kneepkins and Maloni Kunawave both having stellar seasons at the back for their provinces, but I’ve gone with Sam Nemec-Vial.

Otago’s fullback has proven to be a true triple threat, with skills in running, kicking and passing, while also producing plenty of game-changing moments and scoring eight tries.