Taranaki kicks off at home

Taranaki will play host to the Taniwha when the 2010 national provincial rugby competition kicks off in July.

The New Zealand Rugby Union announced the draw yesterday, with Taranaki scoring a home game first up – against Northland on Thursday, July 29 at New Plymouth's Yarrow Stadium.

In a complete turnaround from the 2009 season, Taranaki will play three of its first four matches at home.

The competition will also have a new name, with building suppliers' co-operative ITM signing on as sponsor through to 2012. The ITM Cup will take over from the Air New Zealand Cup, after the airline opted to focus its energy on supporting the All Blacks.

Taranaki will face Tasman in New Plymouth in the second week of the competition before playing Waikato for the Ryan Wheeler Memorial Trophy in Hamilton. Its round four game will be at home against Bay of Plenty.

Its last two games of the round robin will be played away to Wellington and North Harbour.

Other features of Taranaki's draw include Saturday home matches against defending champion Canterbury, Ranfurly Shield holder Southland and neighbour Manawatu.

Off-setting the popular Saturday slots will be three matches on Sundays, including games in a new time slot of 4.35pm.

Taranaki coach Colin Cooper, who is in South Africa with the Hurricanes, should be pleased with the draw, providing Taranaki can win its first three home matches.

Otago gets the first opportunity to play Southland for the Ranfurly Shield, in Invercargill on August 7.

Southland is scheduled to defend the Ranfurly Shield six times, with matches (in order) against Otago, Counties Manukau, North Harbour, Auckland, Canterbury and finally Wellington.

THE DRAW:

Taranaki's draw for the national provincial rugby ITM Cup:

Taranaki v Northland, 7.35pm, Thursday, July 29, Yarrow Stadium

Taranaki v Tasman, 7.35pm, Friday August 6, Yarrow Stadium

Waikato v Taranaki, 4.35pm, Sunday, August 15, Waikato Stadium

Taranaki v Bay of Plenty, 7.35pm, Friday, August 20, Yarrow Stadium

Otago v Taranaki, 7.35pm, Thursday, August 26, Carisbrook

Auckland v Taranaki, 2.35pm, Sunday September 5, Eden Park

Taranaki v Counties Manukau, 4.35pm, Sunday, September 12, Yarrow Stadium

Taranaki v Canterbury, 2.35pm, Saturday, September 18, Yarrow Stadium

Hawke's Bay v Taranaki, 5.30pm, Saturday, September 25, McLean Park

Taranaki v Southland, 7.35pm, Saturday, October 2, Yarrow Stadium

Taranaki v Manawatu, 2.35pm, Saturday, October 9, Yarrow Stadium

Wellington v Taranaki, 7.35pm, Saturday, October 16, Westpac Stadium

North Harbour v Taranaki, 2.35pm, Saturday, October 23, North Harbour Stadium

- © Fairfax NZ News