West Coast Rugby UnionThe National Provincial Championship was established in
1976. West Coast rugby has been pretty much entrenched in the third division of the NPC competition in New Zealand
due to the limited playing numbers relative to other New Zealand rugby
unions. West Coast Rugby Union is made up of clubs from the towns of
Greymouth and Hokitika and the surrounding central western coast district of New
Zealand's South Island, with its main stadium at Greymouth. West Coast
finished the 2002 season in last place.
| The West
Coast rugby jersey is red and white stripes. The jersey has been changed
for the 2002 season, now being made by adidas of New Zealand. It is worn with the fierce pride by
both team members and supporters. The rugby
jersey is made of cotton polyester and comes in sizes Medium to 2X Large.
Choose your size and Champions of the World will send you your
jersey immediately.
The NPC Competition is made up of three divisions with semi-finals and
a final to decide each division. Relegation of the bottom team and
promotion of the top team is determined at the end of each season. There
are ten teams in the first division, eight teams in the second division
and nine team the third division.
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Bay of Plenty won the NPC first division title in 1976, but have
enjoyed no success since then. Wellington took the title in 1978, 1981 and
2000, and Counties won for the only time in 1979. Manawatu got their only
title in 1980, Waikato theirs in 1992. Otago won twice in the nineties, in
1991 and 1998. And apart from that it has been all Auckland, winning in
1982, 1984 and 1985, four times in a row from 1987 - 1990, another four
times consecutively from 1993-1996, and again in 1999. After a season of
building with a young team, Auckland has triumphed again in the 2002
season leaving Canterbury, the 2000 and 2001 winners with the challenge of
2003.
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