# New Zealand Heartland XV

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 |
| 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 | Fiji XV | 10 | 7 | Suva | |
| 1995-3-28 | Fiji 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'alofa | |
| 2001 | No matches were played | | | | |
| 2002-6-2 | Italy XV | 35 | 35 | Palmerston North | 2002 Italy rugby union tour of New Zealand |
| 2002-6-6 | Ireland 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 | Fiji | 34 | 25 | Suva | 2004 Fiji tour |
| 2004-11-10 | Fiji A | 13 | 16 | Suva | |
| 2004-11-13 | Fiji | 22 | 61 | Nadi | |
| 2005-10-29 | Fiji Pacific Warriors | 11 | 24 | Prince Charles Park, Nadi | 2005 Fiji tour |
| 2005-11-13 | Fiji | 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 | United States 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 | Samoa A | 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 | Cook Islands Residents XV | 64 | 6 | BCI National Stadium, Nikao, Rarotonga | 2014 tour to Rarotonga |
| 2014-11-14 | Cook Islands 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 | |
| 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 | Taupō | McRea Cup |
| 2019-08-31 | Samoa | 19 | 36 | Eden Park, Auckland | |
| 2019-11-02 | New Zealand Marist | 19 | 29 | Boyd Park, Te Aroha | |
| 2019-11-07 | Vanua Fiji XV | 12 | 7 | Lautoka Churchill Park | 2019 tour to Fiji |
| 2019-11-09 | Vanua Fiji XV | 7 | 15 | Sigatoka Lawaqa Park | |
| 2020 | No matches were played due to COVID-19 restrictions | | | | |
| 2021-12-05 | New Zealand Barbarians | 24 | 36 | Owen Delany Park, Taupō | |
| 2022-11-06 | New Zealand Police | 84 | 14 | Owen Delany Park, Taupō | |

## 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 teams |
| Mark Allen | Taranaki | 1996(c) | All Blacks |
| Brent Anderson | Wairarapa Bush | 1988 | All Blacks |
| Con Barrell | North Auckland/Northland | 1993-95 | All Blacks |
| Kevin Barrett | Taranaki | 1996 | Hurricanes (father of Beauden, Jordie and Scott Barrett) |
| Marty Berry | Wairarapa Bush | 1992 | All Blacks |
| Norm Berryman | Northland | 1995-96 | All Blacks |
| Todd Blackadder | Nelson Bays | 1991 | Captain of Crusaders and All Blacks |
| Jamie Cameron | Taranaki | 1996 | North Harbour, Taranaki, Hurricanes |
| Jim Coe | Counties | 1993 | Blues, Māori All Blacks |
| Phil Coffin | King Country | 1991-92 | All Blacks |
| Mark Cooksley | Counties | 1993 | All Blacks |
| Matthew Cooper | Hawkes Bay | 1988 | All Blacks |
| Eion Crossan | Southland | 1989-90 | NZ XV and NZ B Teams 1991, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Simon Culhane | Southland | 1992-96 | All Blacks |
| Jarrod Cunningham | Hawkes Bay | 1995-96 | Blues, Hurricanes, NZ Maori |
| Craig Dorgan | South Canterbury | 1988-91 | NZ Colts, All Black trialist |
| Sam Doyle | Manawatu | 1992-93 | Wellington, Hurricanes, Māori All Blacks |
| Luke Erenavula | Counties | 1993 | All Black Trialist, Fiji |
| Gordon Falcon | Hawkes Bay | 1991-96 | Māori All Blacks, All Black trialist, Penrith Panthers |
| Billy Guyton | North Otago | 2010-12 | Māori All Blacks |
| John Hainsworth | Wanganui | 1993 | Wellington, NZ Juniors, NZ Emerging Players |
| Bruce Hansen | Wanganui | 1988-95 | Hurricanes, NZ XV, All Black trialist |
| David Henderson | Southland | 1992 | South Island |
| Paul Henderson | Southland | 1989-95 | All Blacks |
| Jason Hewett | Manawatu | 1989-90 | All Blacks |
| Norm Hewitt | Hawkes Bay | 1991-96 | Māori All Blacks, All Blacks |
| Graham Hurunui | Horowhenua Kapiti | 1993-95 | Manawatu, Wellington, North Island, NZ XV, All Black trialist |
| Warren Johnston | Northland | 1995 | Chiefs, Maori All Blacks, NZ Colts |
| George Konia | Manawatu | 1989-96 | Hurricanes, North Island, NZ Colts, NZ XV, All Black Trialist, Japan |
| Tala Leiasamaivao | Wanganui | 1991 | Manu Samoa |
| Adrian McKenzie | Manawatu | 1989-91 | Wellington, Otago, NZ Colts, NZ Universities |
| Robbie McLean | Wairarapa Bush | 1988-90 | All Blacks |
| Justin Marshall | Southland | 1993 | All Blacks |
| Chris Masoe | Wanganui | 2000 | All Blacks |
| Glyn Meads | King Country | 1988-92 | NZ Emerging Players, All Black trialist |
| Mana Otai | Manawatu | 1991-92 | Tonga |
| Junior Paramore | Counties | 1993 | Manu Samoa |
| Roger Randle | Hawkes Bay | 1996 | All Blacks |
| Scott Robertson | Bay Of Plenty | 1996 | Played for and coached Canterbury, Crusaders, All Blacks |
| Kevin Schuler | Manawatu | 1989-91 | All Blacks |
| Dallas Seymour | Hawkes Bay | 1996 | All Blacks, NZ Sevens |
| Mark Shaw | Hawkes Bay | 1988(c) | Manawatu, All Blacks |
| Gordon Slater | Taranaki | 1993 | Hurricanes, All Blacks |
| Lee Stensness | Manawatu | 1992 | All Blacks |
| Glenn Taylor | North Auckland/Northland | 1993-96 | All Blacks |
| Tony Thorpe | Poverty Bay | 1989-90 | All Black Reserve (1986), Canterbury, NZ Juniors, NZ Emerging Players |
| Jeff Wilson | Southland | 1993 | Otago, Highlanders, All Blacks |

## Recent Squads

* 2019
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
| Player | Province | Forward/Back | Year |
| Anthony Amato | South Canterbury | | 2024 |
| Connor Anderson | South Canterbury | Forward | 2023 |
| Shayne Anderson | West Coast | Back | 2023 |
| Matty Axtens | Thames Valley | | 2024 |
| Sam Briggs | South Canterbury | Back | 2023 |
| Henry Bryce | South Canterbury | Forward | 2022 |
| Sireli Buliruarua | South Canterbury | Back | 2021 |
| Callum Burrell | Mid Canterbury | Forward | 2021* |
| Scott Cameron | Horowhenua Kapiti | Forward | 2019 |
| Carl Carmichael | King Country | Forward | 2019 |
| Craig Clare | Whanganui | Back | 2019, 2021 |
| Josh Clark | North Otago | Forward | 2019, 2023 |
| Quinn Collard | Thames Valley | | 2024 |
| Ralph Darling | North Otago | Forward | 2019 |
| Stefan Destounis | Poverty Bay | Forward | 2021 |
| Todd Doolan | Thames Valley | Back | 2022, 2024 |
| Cruise Dunstar | South Canterbury | Forward | 2022 |
| Hika Elliot | South canterbury | Forward | 2024 |
| Sione Etoni | Thames Valley | | 2024 |
| Oneone Faafou | Thames Valley | | 2024 |
| Tokomaata Fakatava | South Canterbury | Forward | 2021-24 |
| Junior Fakatoufifita | North Otago | Forward | 2022, 2023 |
| Paula Fifita | South Canterbury | Back | 2021-24 |
| Kaleb Foote | King Country | Forward | 2022-24 |
| Te Rangi Fraser | Ngāti Porou East Coast | Back | 2021 |
| Kristian Gent-Standen | King Country | | 2024 |
| James Goodger | Wairarapa Bush | Forward | 2019 |
| Hone Haerewa | Ngāti Porou East Coast | Forward | 2021 |
| Campbell Hart | Whanganui | Forward | 2019, 2021 |
| James Higgins | Poverty Bay | Forward | 2021 |
| Douglas Horrocks | Whanganui | Forward | 2023 |
| Lindsay Horrocks | Whanganui | Back | 2019, 2021-23 |
| Sione Holani | West Coast | Back | 2019 |
| Poleka Itielu | Horowhenua-Kapiti | | 2024 |
| Finlay Joyce | South Canterbury | | 2023-24 |
| Siu Kakala | South Canterbury | | 2024 |
| Tyler Kearns | West Coast | Forward | 2023 |
| Meli Kolinisau | North Otago | Forward | 2019 |
| Seta Koroitamana | Mid Canterbury | Forward | 2019, 2021 |
| Te Huia Kutia | Thames Valley | Forward | 2021, 2024 |
| Harry Lafituanai | Thames Valley | Back | 2019, 2022 |
| Aaron Lahmert | Horowhenua Kapiti | Back | 2019 |
| Josh Lane | Whanganui | Forward | 2021* |
| James Lash | Buller | Back | 2019 |
| Kalavini Leatigaga | South Canterbury | Back | 2019 |
| Jeff Lepa | Buller | Forward | 2019 |
| Declan McCormack | Mid Canterbury | | 2024 |
| Glen McIntrye | Thames Valley | Forward | 2019 |
| Connor McVerry | Thames Valley | Forward | 2021,2022 |
| Peceli Malanicagi | Whanganui | | 2024 |
| Leopino Maupese | Buller | | 2023 |
| Clarence Moli | South Canterbury | | 2024 |
| Fletcher Morgan | Thames Valley | | 2023 |
| Peni Nabainvalu | Wanganui | Back | 2019 |
| Willie Paiaaua | Horowhenua Kapiti | Back | 2019 |
| Sam Parkes | Ngāti Porou East Coast | Back | 2021* |
| Brett Ranga | Thames Valley | Forward | 2019 (Cpt) |
| Ethan Robinson | Whanganui | | 2024 |
| Tyler Rogers Holden | Whanganui | | 2024 |
| Liam Rowlands | King Country | Forward | 2022 |
| Cam Russell | South Canterbury | Forward | 2022 |
| Saimone Samate | North Otago | Back | 2022 |
| Manasa Bari Samo | Mid Canterbury | Forward | 2021 |
| Zac Saunders | South Canterbury | Back | 2021*, 2022 |
| Timoci Seruwalu | Horowhenua Kapiti / Whanganui | Back | 2019, 2021, 2022 |
| Nick Strachan | South Canterbury | Forward | 2021, 2022 |
| Sam Sturgess | North Otago | Forward | 2021 |
| Vaka Taelega | South Canterbury | Forward | 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Keanu Taumata | Poverty Bay | | 2023 |
| Troy Tauwhare | West Coast | Forward | 2019 |
| Hakarangi Tichborne | East Coast | Forward | 2022 |
| Hayden Todd | North Otago | Back | 2021, 2022 |
| Loni Toumohuni | South Canterbury | Forward | 2021* |
| Lennix Tovo | Horowhenua Kapiti | Back | 2021 |
| Roman Tutauha | Whanganui | Forward | 2022 |
| Sam Van Der Valk | Thames Valley | Forward | 2021 |
| Raitube Vasurakuta | Mid Canterbury | Back | 2021, 2024 |
| Logan Wakefield | Wairarapa Bush | | 2024 |
| Dane Whale | Whanganui | Back | 2021*, 2022 |
| Dallas Wiki | Horowhenua-Kapiti | | 2024 |
| Adam Williamson | Mid Canterbrury | Forward | 2022-24 |
| William Wright | South Canterbury | Back | 2019,2021-24 |
* Denotes non-travelling reserve player

## Coaches/management
### Head coaches

* Barry Matthews: 2016 and 2017
* Mark Rutene 2019
* Nigel Walsh (South Canterbury) 2021-2024

### Management team

* Coll Campbell (Poverty Bay), Team Doctor 2021-2022
* Aleni Feagaiga (Horowhenua-Kapiti), Observer Coach 2024
* Jason Hamlin (Whanganui), Assistant Coach 2021-22
* David Harrison (Thames Valley), Observer Coach 2024
* Tony Harrison (Mid Canterbury), Manager 2021
* Slade King (King Country), Trainer 2021-24
* Miah Nikora, Assistant Coach 2023-24
* Shay O’Gorman (Wairarapa-Bush), Assistant Manager 2022
* Geoff Thompson (South Canterbury), Physio 2021-24
* Thomas Zimmerman (Horowhenua-Kapiti), Manager 2022-24