The Heartland XV is one of several New Zealand representative rugby union teams, although it is at a lower level than the All Blacks and the Māori All Blacks. The side is drawn exclusively from players for provincial unions that compete in the Heartland Championship, a nominally amateur domestic competition below the fully professional National Provincial Championship (NPC).
History
Founded in 1988 and originally known as the New Zealand Divisional XV, it was designed to expose players from Divisions Two and Three in the Air New Zealand National Provincial Championship (NPC) to rugby at a higher level.
As well as playing local and international teams that may visit (such as Ireland and Italy in 2002) the New Zealand Divisional XV also toured Australia, Canada and various Pacific Islands.
Upon the 2006 reorganisation of the NPC into the Air New Zealand Cup and Heartland Championship, the side was revamped into a Heartland-only side and received its current name.
The first team known as the New Zealand Heartland XV side toured the Pacific Islands in 2005 and they played six games (which they won), including matches against Tonga and Fiji. The team then toured Argentina in 2006 and the United States in 2008, beating the Pacific Coast Grizzlies and a USA Select XV. They have subsequently toured Pacific Islands.
Results
Date Opponent F A Venue Notes/references 1988-10-13 Cook Islands XV 56 4 Rarotonga 1988 tour to Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji 1988-10-15 Cook Islands 9 6 Rarotonga 1988-10-20 Presidents Selection 28 8 Teufaiva 1988-10-22 Tonga 25 8 Nuku'alofa 1988-10-26 Nadi 30 16 Nadi 1988-10-29 Fiji 24 20 Suva 1989-4-1 Waikato 25 32 Hamilton 1990-3-18 Poverty Bay 55 6 Gisborne 1990-3-21 Western Samoa 57 9 Taupō 1990-3-24 Counties 45 4 Pukekohe 1991-3-18 Australian Capital Territory 13 18 Canberra 1991 Australian tour 1991-3-21 New South Wales Country 31 17 Batemans Bay 1991-3-24 Victoria 40 4 Melbourne 1991-3-27 South Australia 43 0 Adelaide 1991-4-1 Sydney 19 45 Sydney 1992-3-22 Thames Valley 30 6 Te Aroha 1992-3-25 Waikato Rugby Union 30 30 Hamilton 1992-3-29 Counties 20 17 Pukekohe 1993-4-18 King Country 70 8 Otorohanga 1993-4-21 Hawke's Bay 35 18 Napier 1993-4-25 Wellington 34 22 Wellington 1993-10-16 Presidents XV 66 0 Nuku'alofa 1993 tour of Tonga, Fiji, Rarotonga and Samoa 1993-10-19 Tonga 18 21 Nuku'alofa 1993-10-23 Western Division 31 29 Nandi 1993-10-26 Eastern Division 39 3 Suva 1993-10-28 Presidents XV 30 24 Rarotonga 1993-10-30 Cook Islands 26 15 Rarotonga 1993-11-3 Western Samoa Presidents XV 35 26 Apia 1995-3-15 British Columbia Presidents XV 84 6 Abbotsford 1995 tour to Canada and Fiji tour 1995-3-18 British Columbia 16 16 Vancouver 1995-3-25 XV 10 7 Suva 1995-3-28 XV 19 23 Nadi 1995-4-1 NZRU President's XV 71 22 Wanganui 1996-7-10 Otago 18 23 Dunedin 1996-7-13 North Otago Invitation XV 25 33 Dunedin 1996-7-16 Canterbury 33 27 Timaru 1997 No matches were played 1998 No matches were played 1999 No matches were played 2000-11-15 Apia XV 47 11 Apia 2000 tour to Samoa and Tonga 2000-11-18 Samoa XV 30 23 Apia 2000-11-22 Tonga XV 17 34 Nuku'alofa2001 No matches were played 2002-6-2 XV 35 35 Palmerston North 2002 Italy rugby union tour of New Zealand 2002-6-6 XV 3 56 Timaru 2002 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand 2003-03-31 Samoa 27 30 Pukekohe 2003-06-07 Tonga 10 10 Napier 2004-11-6 34 25 Suva 2004 Fiji tour 2004-11-10 Fiji A 13 16 Suva 2004-11-13 22 61 Nadi 2005-10-29 Fiji Pacific Warriors 11 24 Prince Charles Park, Nadi 2005 Fiji tour 2005-11-13 29 39 Churchill Park, Lautoka 2006-11-1 Salta 39 5 Salta 2006 Argentina Tour 2006-11-11 Tucuman 13 35 Tucuman 2006-11-11 Argentina A 5 39 Rosario 2007 No matches were played 2008-11-4 Pacific Coast Grizzlies 35 12 San Francisco 2008 USA tour 2008-11-8 Select XV 19 14 Salt Lake City 2009-11-14 New Zealand Marist 11 23 Masterton 2010-11-6 New Zealand Marist 22 31 Wanganui 2010-11-0 New Zealand Defence Force 47 13 Levin 2011-10-15 New Zealand Marist 14 15 Pukekohe 2012-11-03 New Zealand Marist 15 10 College Rifles Rugby Club, Auckland 2012-11-07 Apia 21 23 Apia 2012 Samoa tour 2012-11-13 17 13 Apia 2013-11-06 New Zealand Defence Force 60 34 Methven 2013-11-09 New Zealand Marist 25 12 Timaru 2014-11-08 New Zealand Marist 46 31 Albany 2014-11-11 Residents XV 64 6 BCI National Stadium, Nikao, Rarotonga 2014 tour to Rarotonga 2014-11-14 Residents XV 20 33 BCI National Stadium, Nikao, Rarotonga 2015-11-07 New Zealand Marist 47 42 Masterton 2015-11-10 Australian Barbarians 32 38 Levin 2015-11-13 Australian Barbarians 24 40 Cooks Gardens, Whanganui 2016-11-5 New Zealand Marist 35 14 Ardmore Marist Rugby Club, Papakura McRea Cup 2016-11-08 Nadi 26 19 Nadi 2016 Fiji tour 2016-11-11 Nadroga 22 26 Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka 2017-11-04 New Zealand Marist 41 39 Timaru McRea Cup 2018-11-01 Vanua Fiji XV 60 0 Owen Delany Park, Taupō 2018-11-05 New Zealand Marist 46 19 TaupōMcRea Cup 2019-08-31 19 36 Eden Park, Auckland2019-11-02New Zealand Marist1929Boyd Park, Te Aroha 2019-11-07 Vanua Fiji XV 12 7 Lautoka Churchill Park 2019 tour to Fiji2019-11-09Vanua Fiji XV 7 15 Sigatoka Lawaqa Park2020 No matches were played COVID-19 restrictions2021-12-05New Zealand Barbarians 24 36 Owen Delany Park, Taupō 2022-11-06New Zealand Police 84 14 Owen Delany Park, Taupō 2023-11-04New Zealand Barbarians 26 49 Oamaru2024-10-29New Zealand Maori Selection 14 47 Cooks Gardens, Whanganui2024-11-03New Zealand Barbarians 21 40 Cooks Gardens, Whanganui2025-11-04Samoa President's XV 31 14 Apia Park, Samoa2025 tour to Samoa2025-11-08Samoa XV 31 14 Apia Park, Samoa
Notable past players
Before the advent of professional Super Rugby in 1996 and the later change from three divisions of National Provincial Rugby to the current competition structure it was common for past, future or even current All Blacks to play for the New Zealand Divisional team.
Player Province Year Other teamsMark Allen Taranaki 1996(c) All BlacksBrent Anderson Wairarapa Bush 1988 All BlacksCon Barrell North Auckland/Northland 1993-95 All BlacksKevin Barrett Taranaki 1996 Hurricanes (father of Beauden, Jordie and Scott Barrett) Marty Berry Wairarapa Bush 1992 All Blacks Norm BerrymanNorthland 1995-96 All BlacksTodd Blackadder Nelson Bays 1991 Captain of Crusaders and All Blacks Jamie Cameron Taranaki1996 North Harbour, Taranaki, HurricanesJim Coe Counties 1993Blues, Māori All Blacks Phil Coffin King Country1991-92 All Blacks Mark CooksleyCounties 1993 All BlacksMatthew Cooper Hawkes Bay 1988 All BlacksEion Crossan Southland 1989-90 NZ XV and NZ B Teams 1991, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSimon Culhane Southland 1992-96 All BlacksJarrod Cunningham Hawkes Bay 1995-96 Blues, Hurricanes, NZ MaoriCraig Dorgan South Canterbury1988-91 NZ Colts, All Black trialistSam Doyle Manawatu 1992-93 Wellington, Hurricanes, Māori All BlacksLuke Erenavula Counties 1993All Black Trialist, FijiGordon Falcon Hawkes Bay 1991-96 Māori All Blacks, All Black trialist, Penrith PanthersBilly GuytonNorth Otago 2010-12Māori All Blacks John Hainsworth Wanganui 1993 Wellington, NZ Juniors, NZ Emerging PlayersBruce Hansen Wanganui 1988-95 Hurricanes, NZ XV, All Black trialistDavid Henderson Southland 1992 South IslandPaul Henderson Southland 1989-95 All BlacksJason Hewett Manawatu1989-90 All BlacksNorm Hewitt Hawkes Bay 1991-96 Māori All Blacks, All Blacks Graham HurunuiHorowhenua Kapiti 1993-95Manawatu, Wellington, North Island, NZ XV, All Black trialist Warren JohnstonNorthland 1995 Chiefs, Maori All Blacks, NZ ColtsGeorge Konia Manawatu 1989-96 Hurricanes, North Island, NZ Colts, NZ XV, All Black Trialist, JapanTala Leiasamaivao Wanganui 1991 Manu Samoa Adrian McKenzieManawatu 1989-91 Wellington, Otago, NZ Colts, NZ UniversitiesRobbie McLean Wairarapa Bush 1988-90 All BlacksJustin Marshall Southland 1993All BlacksChris MasoeWanganui2000 All Blacks Glyn Meads King Country1988-92 NZ Emerging Players, All Black trialist Mana Otai Manawatu1991-92 Tonga Junior ParamoreCounties 1993 Manu SamoaRoger Randle Hawkes Bay 1996 All BlacksScott Robertson Bay Of Plenty 1996 Played for and coached Canterbury, Crusaders, All BlacksKevin Schuler Manawatu 1989-91 All BlacksDallas Seymour Hawkes Bay 1996 All Blacks, NZ Sevens Mark Shaw Hawkes Bay1988(c) Manawatu, All BlacksGordon SlaterTaranaki1993Hurricanes, All Blacks Lee Stensness Manawatu 1992 All BlacksGlenn Taylor North Auckland/Northland 1993-96All BlacksTony Thorpe Poverty Bay 1989-90 All Black Reserve (1986), Canterbury, NZ Juniors, NZ Emerging Players Jeff Wilson Southland 1993Otago, Highlanders, All Blacks
Recent Squads 2019
2021
2022
2023
2024
Player Province Forward/Back Year(s)Anthony AmatoSouth Canterbury 2024Connor AndersonSouth CanterburyForward 2023Shayne AndersonWest Coast Back 2023Matty AxtensThames Valley 2024Sam BriggsSouth CanterburyBack 2023Henry BryceSouth CanterburyForward2022 Sireli Buliruarua South Canterbury Back2021 Callum Burrell Mid Canterbury Forward 2021* Scott Cameron Horowhenua Kapiti Forward2019 Carl Carmichael King Country Forward2019 Craig Clare Whanganui Back2019, 2021 Josh Clark North Otago Forward2019, 2023 Quinn Collard Thames Valley 2024 Ralph Darling North Otago Forward2019 Stefan Destounis Poverty Bay Forward 2021Todd DoolanThames ValleyBack 2022, 2024Cruise DunstarSouth CanterburyForward2022 Hika Elliot South Canterbury Forward 2024 Sione Etoni Thames Valley 2024 Oneone Faafou Thames Valley 2024 Tokomaata Fakatava South Canterbury Forward 2021-24Junior FakatoufifitaNorth OtagoForward2022, 2023 Paula Fifita South Canterbury Back2021-24Kaleb FooteKing CountryForward2022-24 Te Rangi Fraser Ngāti Porou East Coast Back2021 Kristian Gent-Standen King Country 2024 James Goodger Wairarapa Bush Forward2019 Hone Haerewa Ngāti Porou East Coast Forward 2021 Campbell Hart Whanganui Forward 2019, 2021 James Higgins Poverty Bay Forward 2021Douglas HorrocksWhanganuiForward 2023Lindsay Horrocks Whanganui Back2019, 2021-23Sione Holani West Coast Back2019Poleka Itielu Horowhenua-Kapiti 2024Finlay JoyceSouth Canterbury 2023-24 Siu Kakala South Canterbury 2024Tyler KearnsWest Coast Forward 2023 Meli Kolinisau North Otago Forward2019 Seta KoroitamanaMid Canterbury Forward 2019, 2021 Te Huia Kutia Thames Valley Forward 2021, 2024 Harry Lafituanai Thames Valley Back2019, 2022Aaron Lahmert Horowhenua Kapiti Back2019 Josh Lane Whanganui Forward 2021* James Lash Buller Back2019 Kalavini Leatigaga South Canterbury Back2019 Jeff Lepa Buller Forward2019Declan McCormackMid Canterbury 2024 Glen McIntrye Thames Valley Forward2019 Connor McVerry Thames Valley Forward 2021,2022 Peceli Malanicagi Whanganui 2024 Leopino MaupeseBuller 2023Clarence Moli South Canterbury 2024Fletcher MorganThames Valley 2023Peni Nabainvalu Wanganui Back2019Willie Paiaaua Horowhenua Kapiti Back2019 Sam Parkes Ngāti Porou East Coast Back2021* Brett Ranga Thames Valley Forward2019 (Cpt)Ethan Robinson Whanganui 2024 Tyler Rogers Holden Whanganui 2024Liam RowlandsKing CountryForward2022Cam RussellSouth CanterburyForward2022Saimone SamateNorth OtagoBack2022 Manasa Bari Samo Mid Canterbury Forward 2021 Zac Saunders South Canterbury Back2021*, 2022 Timoci Seruwalu Horowhenua Kapiti / Whanganui Back2019, 2021, 2022 Nick Strachan South Canterbury Forward 2021, 2022 Sam Sturgess North Otago Forward 2021 Vaka Taelega South Canterbury Forward 2021, 2022, 2023Keanu TaumataPoverty Bay 2023 Troy Tauwhare West Coast Forward2019 Hakarangi Tichborne East CoastForward 2022 Hayden Todd North Otago Back2021, 2022 Loni Toumohuni South Canterbury Forward 2021* Lennix Tovo Horowhenua Kapiti Back2021Roman TutauhaWhanganuiForward2022 Sam Van Der Valk Thames Valley Forward 2021 Raitube Vasurakuta Mid Canterbury Back2021, 2024 Logan Wakefield Wairarapa Bush 2024 Dane Whale Whanganui Back2021*, 2022 Dallas Wiki Horowhenua-Kapiti 2024Adam WilliamsonMid CanterbruryForward2022-24 William Wright South Canterbury Back2019,2021-24
Denotes non-travelling reserve player
Coaches/management