Canterbury end eight-year NPC title drought with win over Otago

Canterbury have brought their eight-year title drought to an end in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship, reclaiming their once long-lasting status as champions with a clinical 36-28 win over Otago on Saturday.

The Cantabrians hadn’t tasted Premiership glory since 2017, when they defeated Tasman 35-13 in that season’s NPC Final. They returned to the big dance three years ago, but the Wellington Lions flew into Christchurch and left with the trophy, winning 26-18.

In the 2025 regular season, Canterbury and Otago finished first and second on the ladder with eight wins from 10 matches. With the Cantabrians collecting the minor premiership, they secured a home final with wins over Counties Manukau and Hawke’s Bay in the knockout rounds.

First five-eighth Andrew Knewstubb sent the opening kick-off in Otago’s half, with the ball finding the ground before bouncing into touch. It was a nervy start to what ended up being a thrilling decider at Apollo Projects Stadium – a final with plenty of twists and turns.

Canterbury had the first opportunity to score points, but the hosts ended up turning down a potential shot at goal in the pursuit of seven. Christian Lio-Willie had been penalised around the breakdown, seeing Knewstubb kick for the sideline.

Otago’s defence stood tall, before in-form backrower Lucas Casey got over the ball. After kicking their way out of danger, Otago ended up scoring the opening points of the match, with Lio-Willie and halfback Dylan Pledger setting up the score with clever link-up play.

Lio-Willie got an offload off to Pledger, with young No. 9 running into some open space, before Canterbury’s scrambling defence stopped the play. Otago kept the pressure on, spreading the ball to Thomas Umaga-Jensen who touched down in the fifth minute.

Cameron Millar converted the try, which was the difference for a while.

Canterbury hit back almost immediately, with second-rower Jamie Hannah striding up the field. Capped All Black Dallas McLeod scored a few phases later, but Chay Fihaki pushed the difficult attempt wide, meaning the hosts still trailed by two.

It was all Otago from there who had the ball inside Canterbury’s 22. Lio-Willie came close to scoring after an attacking scrum five metres out from the try line, only for the No. 8 to be dragged down just shy of the line. In the next phase, Casey jumped over the try line to score.

14-5 in favour of Otago, the scoreboard midway through the first.

Yet again, it was up to the Cantabrians to claw their way back into the contest, and they did just that. The dominance of the forwards was the reason behind their success, with All Blacks hooker Brodie McAlister reaping the rewards of a rampaging rolling maul.

A lot of rugby was played between the 22s during the final 15 minutes of the first half, before Canterbury captain Tom Christie kicked the ball into touch for half-time. Canterbury trailed by four at the break, but it didn’t take them long to change that.

After the half-time interval, with the Canterbury mascot appearing to pull their hamstring during their victorious run in the 2025 Mascot Race, both teams returned to the field. It took Canterbury four minutes to take the lead for the first time.

Manasa Mataele scored early in the second term, with Fihaki nailing the conversion from the right sideline. Braydon Ennor crossed for a five-pointer about six minutes later, before halfback Louie Chapman helped extend the team’s lead to a comprehensive 17 point margin.

In a blur, Canterbury piled on 21 unanswered points.

Otago struck back through replacement prop Benjamin Lopas in the 62^nd minute, only for Gus Brown to effectively cancel out that score for Canterbury with 10 to play. Jona Nareki had the last try-scoring say with a late effort, but time wasn’t on their side.