BEER TENTS & BOUNCY CASTLES
Since its 1976 inception the National Provincial Championship captured hearts and minds of a diehard New Zealand rugby fraternity.
Allegiances formed through provincial boundaries and club loyalties created a blood and bone type fervour, intense border rivalries, grudge matches and a level of rugby that fuelled Al Blacks success.
Throughout the ensuing 42 seasons, this iconic competition has undergone various structural changes to its present Mitre 10 Cup format.
The 2018 provincial season certainly delivered, producing a memorable highlight reel with Auckland bouncing back to topple Canterbury in extra time and the Ranfurly Shield moving from New Plymouth to Hamilton and finally Dunedin.
Waikato finally regained their mojo and perennial basement dwellers Thames Valley, against all odds, lifted the Meads Cup for the first time.
Quality of rugby alone can’t paper over some of the cracks appearing in the retaining walls of our provincial game, though.
The problems are all too well documented, unions having to manage spiralling operating costs marred by dire gate takings.
The effect that scheduling evening kick-offs for the associated TV sponsorship money has
