The 2018 New Zealand Rugby League National Championship kicks off this Saturday with the Regional Zone qualifiers. The National Championship sits below the National Premiership and features representative teams from 10 counties. Each of these counties are grouped into geographic Zones and will play each other to decide a Zone Champion.
The Zone Champions will then play each other to decide the National Championship winner, before they are given the opportunity to qualify for the National Premiership in 2019. The National Premiership includes the Canterbury, Waikato, Counties and Akarana
ZONE MATCHES:
Northern Zone:
Northland
Bay of Plenty
Central Zone:
Taranaki
Manawatu
Wellington
Southern Zone:
Tasman
West Coast
Aoraki
Otago
Southland
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
15th September: Northern Zone Winner v Central Zone Winner
22nd September: Central Zone Winner v Southern Zone Winner
29th September: Southern Zone Winner v Northern Zone Winner
PROMOTION / RELEGATION MATCH:
6th October: National Championship Winner vs 4th Place National Premiership Team
