2009 Air New Zealand Cup

2009 Air New Zealand Cup
Countries New Zealand
Date30 July – 7 November
ChampionsCanterbury
Runners-upWellington
Matches played91
Tries scored420
(average 4.6 per match)
Top point scorerMatt Berquist (159)
Top try scorerZac Guildford (13)
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The 2009 Air New Zealand Cup was the 33rd provincial rugby union competition, the fourth since the competition's reconstruction in 2006, involving the top 14 provincial unions in New Zealand. It ran for 15 weeks from 30 July to 7 November. It was also the last edition of the provincial competition to use the Air New Zealand Cup name, as the competition's sponsorship contract with Air New Zealand ended after that season. The 2010 competition will be held under a new name, the ITM Cup.

Unlike previous seasons the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup did not have quarterfinals in their finals format, instead going straight to the semifinals with the top four teams rather than the top eight.[1]

Canterbury were the eventual champions, winning their second title in a row and their seventh overall, it was the first time Canterbury had gone back-to-back in the provincial championship. They beat Wellington, 28–20, at Lancaster Park in Christchurch on 7 November. Wellington were down 18–3 at halftime but came back to close the scores to 25–20 in Canterbury's favour, but a late penalty goal by Stephen Brett put Wellington out of reach and gave Canterbury the win and the championship.[2]

Doubts were raised throughout the season with serious support coming from the four teams likely to be axed, Counties Manukau, Northland, Manawatu, and Tasman, and their supporters, while the financial sustainability of the two unions who were to be promoted to the new first division was questioned.[3][4] On 11 December the New Zealand Rugby Union decided to stick with the 14 team Air New Zealand Cup and the 12 team Heartland Championship format through 2010.[5]

  1. ^ "Air New Zealand Cup schedule for 2009 released" Archived 22 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine, allblacks.com, 19 February 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference final was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference doubt was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Knowler, Richard. "Money matters top of agenda", The Press, 20 November 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  5. ^ Johnstone, Duncan. "NZRU decides against provincial rugby changes", stuff.co.nz, 11 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.