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The ITM Cup is a New Zealand domestic rugby union opposition, getting spot from late August by way of Oct (or the initial week of November). It was founded in 2006 with fourteen teams, after the National Provincial Championship (NPC) was break up into two different competitions. The other 12 unions from the NPC now contend in the amateur Heartland Championship. From its inception through the 2009 period, it was sponsored by Air New Zealand, the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand, and referred to as the Air New Zealand Cup. New Zealand also has 5 groups in Super Rugby, an elite competitors which also includes sides from Australia and South Africa.

In March 2010 it was introduced that the Air New Zealand Cup would be renamed the ITM Cup with the addition of building provides cooperative ITM (Independent Timber Retailers) as the significant sponsor. The modify came because Air New Zealand selected to focus their rugby sponsorship on the country's nationwide staff, the All Blacks.

The 2006 reorganisation of New Zealand provincial rugby replaced the NPC's former 3-division setup with two distinct competitions. This differs from the authentic two-division setup used in the NPC from its development in 1976 to 1984 in two essential methods. 1st, the two existing competitions are nationwide, although the unique NPC Division Two was break up on a North Island/South Island foundation. Next, the NZRU ruled that there would initially be no marketing or relegation amongst the Air New Zealand Cup and Heartland Championship--a attribute that had usually been present in the previous NPC. watch rugby online

Also, the number of groups was decreased to 26, as the Marlborough and Nelson Bays unions merged to kind the new Tasman union.

The 2006 growth of the Tremendous 12 and Tri Nations Series experienced a key influence on the Air New Zealand Cup. This expansion developed the Tremendous 14, adding two extra fixtures to that competitors, and also extra two more Tri-Nations matches for the All Blacks, at minimum in non-Globe Cup years. Simply because of these modifications, it was intended for players in the All Blacks choice pool to make only restricted appearances in the Air New Zealand Cup.

The 2009 Air New Zealand Cup observed a different framework than prior a long time, right after a modest pre-season the Round-Robin ran for thirteen months with each and every crew facing every single other when. The prime 4 groups sophisticated to the semi-finals and the winners from each semi competed for the title in the Grand Final.

To choose which four groups went through to the semi-finals the Rugby Union Reward Factors System was used.

The Rugby Union Points Method:

four details for a earn two factors for a attract 1 stage for scoring 4 attempts one stage for losing by seven details or less

So the most points a profitable group can get is 5 and the most a getting rid of team can get is 2 factors. Semi-Finals are played in between four teams, the teams are seeded 1 to four and the two highest seeded groups enjoy at house against the two lowest seeded groups that means one performs 4 and 2 plays 3. The greatest seed nonetheless remaining in the grand ultimate played at house.