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1978 National Provincial Championship

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The 1978 season was the third year of the National Provincial Championship (NPC), a provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand. Wellington were the winners of Division 1.

Division 1

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Relegated to Division Two
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Wellington 10 8 0 2 172 111 +61 16
2 Counties 10 7 0 3 167 110 +57 14
3 Canterbury 10 6 0 4 152 144 +8 12
4 Auckland 10 6 0 4 123 100 +23 12
5 North Auckland 10 6 0 4 129 137 −8 12
6 Manawatu 10 5 1 4 141 122 +19 11
7 Taranaki 10 4 2 4 156 129 +27 10
8 Southland 10 5 0 5 114 101 +13 10
9 Otago 10 3 1 6 115 164 −49 7
10 South Canterbury 10 2 1 7 92 150 −58 5
11 Hawke's Bay 10 0 1 9 68 161 −93 1

Promotion/Relegation

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As the bottom-placed North Island team, Hawkes Bay were automatically relegated.

The winners of Division Two North, Bay of Plenty, were automatically promoted to Division One.

South Canterbury faced Division Two South winner Marlborough. The match was tied 10–10, which meant South Canterbury remained in Division One.

Division Two Teams

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Division 2 North (in order of final placing)

Division 2 South (in order of final placing)

Ranfurly Shield

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Manawatu began the season as holders having defeated Auckland in the 1976 season. In 1978, they defended the shield in four matches, extending their tenure to 13 successful defences before being defeated by North Auckland. North Auckland chose not to accept any more challenges in 1978 and thus held the shield for the summer.

Manawatu

  • beat West Coast 51–10
  • beat Horowhenua 42–14
  • beat Poverty Bay 24–0
  • beat Wellington 13–6
  • lost to North Auckland 10–12