The 1976 season was the inaugural year of the National Provincial Championship (NPC), also known for sponsorship reasons as the Radio New Zealand National Championship, a provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand. Bay of Plenty were the winners of Division 1, while Taranaki and South Canterbury were the winners of Division 2 North Island and Division 2 South Island respectively.
Division 1
Standings Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF Pts110811195112+8325172 (RS)10712142104+381715310613160133+271913410604153118+352012510604118107+112012610514165122+432011710424106148+421110810406125130−5188910307146192−461961010217105161−56135111001976164−8881
Results
May
June
July
August
September
Division 2 (North Island)
Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF Pts1880020949+16028162870121687+129311438413110144−34994840492115−231185840417376+972886840498107−91387820641214−173648811670128−58639810794183−89152
Results
May
June
July
August
September
Division 2 (South Island)
Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF Pts1540110339+64148253026440+2496353027277−5116452125055−565551135963−4636510441115−7462
Results
June
July
August
September
Promotion/relegation matches
As North Auckland came last in Division 1, the unbeaten winners of Division 2 (North Island), Taranaki, were promoted to Division 1 to replace them.
South Canterbury won Division 2 (South Island), giving them a promotion play-off against Southland; they lost the game 24–11 remained in Division 2.
References thesilverfern.co.nz