50. NPC is done and cleared. Who would make Form XV in 2026? A lot of surprising, exciting new talent has emerged, with established names stepping up.
1. Isile Fono (North Country)
He had a terrible time in the final but the strength of the scrum was a big part of Northland’s fairytale run in 2026. Fono is set to make his debut in Super Rugby Pacific 2027. His tremendous improvement, work ethic and consistency are very appealing.
2. Brodie McAlister (Canterbury)
With a former All Black on the roster, Canterbury have won 12 of their last 13 games. The competition’s most accurate lineout hurler helped himself to two tries from lineouts as Canterbury lifted the Ranfurly Shield Otago and down three times in a 62-26 rout Waikato in the semi-finals. Made 91 tackles and over 60 carries in 498 minutes.
3. Marcel Renata (Northland)
Titan of the Taniwha scrum, who smashed several opponents in 2026; just ask Taranaki (42-0), Canterbury (36-12) and Tasman (20-10). Maori All black people the prop was rewarded for his graft with two tries in the 38-19 semi-final win against Otago.
4. Howden Kindergarten (Manawatu)
Manawatu won five games in 2026, their most successful campaign since 2014. Workhorse lock TK Howden was an inspirational leader. He ranked in the top ten in matches scored (169) and wins in the lineup (44). Howden had similar numbers in Super Rugby Pacific. He is a very consistent professional.
5. Hunter Morrison (Hawke’s Bay)
Ex New Zealand The under-20 representative endured a checkered few years in professional rugby until a breakthrough NPC this season that saw him secure a contract with the Hurricanes. Hawke’s Bay won its first six games and Morrison was superb in all of them, scoring tries in wins against Wellington (52-33), Tasman (50-19), Manawatu (59-17) and Southland (36-21).
He was often near the top in tackles and carries. In the second half of the season, centurion Geoff Cridge and senior young prospect Tom Allen were the preferred starters, but the Magpies never had the same fervor with Morrison less often on the field.
6. Gardiner House (Canterbury)
In Round 2, he plundered a legendary turnaround to see off Canterbury’s successful 19-15 Ranfurly Shield challenge against Otago. He never stopped working. He ranks in the top three in carries (167) and tackles (183). Gardiner is a player who could start in many international XVs.
7. Lucas Casey (Otago)
Kerikeri Kid was named Highlanders Super Rugby Pacific Rookie of the Year for his breakthrough campaign. Interestingly, he equaled Karl Te Nana’s 29-year-old record for tries in nine consecutive games in the NPC. Additionally, Casey ranked in the top 30 in tackles and turnovers.
Honorable mention goes to fellow Highlander Sean Withy, who topped the competition with 182 for Southland. County stalwart Adam Brash (174) also made the top ten and had a huge impact on the Steelers, who ended the season with the Ranfurly Shield. Canterbury’s Corey Kellow has filled the boots of fighting machine Tom Christie.
8. Christian Lio-Willie (Otago)
A real talisman for Otago, ranked in the top ten for tries, carries, runs and kicks. He hasn’t thought much about the All Blacks conversation this year, but maybe he should. He rarely lets you down.
9. Bryn Hall (North Port)
Many veterans returning from long spells overseas for NPCs seem to go through this. He’s not a 34-year-old North Harbour half back, Bryn Hall. Hall’s leadership, option taking, hitting and speed of distribution were the main reasons for North Harbour’s resurgence. Hall, who won 78 of 93 games at the Crusaders, including six super titles, has signed for the defending champions Hurricanes in 2027
10. Review of Rehian (north country)
The leading scorer in the NPC with 128, he scored 18 points in Northland’s 38-19 win over Otago in the semi-final. He scored 15 from 20 in their first defense against the Ranfurly Shield Tasman and kicked 11 in their successful challenge against Canterbury. Rehiana shoots better in the overall game than any top ten in the competition and has a great range of attacking skills. If ten more All Blacks were injured, would Rehiana be the next taxi?
11. Rory Taylor (Northport)
Insured a Blues deal with a breakout campaign. He was in the top ten for tries scored (7), clear breaks (23), defenders beaten (44) and meters gained (1039). Taylor was one of those players who could make something out of nothing. He also showed good footwork, solid defensive qualities and rapid improvement, as did North Harbour, which jumped from one win in 2025 to six in 2026.
12. Jake Te Hiwi (Otago)
He played 11 games and ranked in the top ten for defenders tackled with 45. Although he scored just one try in the 57-33 win over Tasman, he had some good matches. Most importantly in destroying Wellington (61-22), both outings against Hawke’s Bay, and in victories against Counties Manukau (50-21) and Auckland (45-42).
13. Dallas McLeod (Canterbury)
The former All Blacks center is off to Exeter England in the best form of his career. He scored seven tries in 2026, including an outrageous chip-and-chase try in Canterbury’s 62-26 quarter-final defeat of Waikato in Christchurch.
Solid in defense and always going forward in the carry, McLeod leaves New Zealand with a fine piece of work. He played 67 games and won 48 for the Crusaders, winning five Super Rugby titles. He played 79 games for Canterbury, scored 34 tries and won the 2025 and 2026 NPC titles.
14. Kyren Taumoefolau (Tasman)
He broke the NPC Division 1 record for most tackles in a season with 19, beating Terry Wright of Auckland 1984 and Otago’s Brendan Laney in 1998 with four tries. He has scored at least one try in nine of 11 games. He scored five in a 50-35 win against Counties Manukau and four in a 50-33 rout of Waikato. He topped the NPC in yards gained (1154), clear breaks (26) and defenders beaten (55).
15. Sam Nemec-Vial (Otago)
Ranked in the top ten for most tries scored (9), meters gained in the lead (665), defenders beaten (41) and clear breaks (16). Lively and consistent, Nemec-Vial, of Czech and Kiwi descent, models his game on former All Blacks Rugby World Cup fullback Ben Smith, who, like Nemec-Vial, played for King’s High School First XV and Green Island Rugby Club.
Taranaki’s Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has had an outstanding campaign and can’t be far from international football.