Wellington suffers record 11th consecutive NPC loss to Waikato
Sunday 27 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated 
Wellington lost 34-10 to Waikato at Hnry Stadium on Sunday, marking their 11th straight defeat in the National Provincial Championship. The loss leaves the Lions winless this season, while Waikato moved into the top eight.
Key facts
4 facts
- Wellington lost 34-10 to Waikato at Hnry Stadium on Sunday
- Wellington has lost 11 consecutive NPC matches, a competition record
- Waikato moved from eighth to sixth place on the table
- Wellington's last victory was against Southland on 20 September 2025
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Wellington recorded their 11th consecutive National Provincial Championship loss on Sunday, falling 34-10 to Waikato at Hnry Stadium. This marks the first time in the 50-year history of the competition that a team has lost 11 straight matches. The defeat was the ninth consecutive loss for the Lions this season, following two losses at the end of last year.
Waikato secured the victory in heavy rain and wind, moving from eighth to sixth on the table. The Mooloos' scorers included tries from Sean Ralph, Jahrome Brown, Sefo Kautai, and Daiki Nakajima, with Taha Kemara adding three conversions and D'Angelo Leuila a penalty. Wellington's tries were scored by Stanley Solomon and Sekope Lopeti-Moli.
Wellington captain Du’Plessis Kirifi noted that mistakes have had a significant impact on their performance. "It seems like the mistakes we make have a massive effect on our game," Kirifi said. The team must now defeat Taranaki in their final match to avoid a winless season, though a win will not prevent them from finishing last.
Waikato's win was their first against Wellington since 2021. The match also saw the return of Waikato halfback Cortez Ratima, who had previously been sidelined by a knee injury.
Where reports differ
- One report states Waikato moved into the top eight, while another specifies they moved from eighth to sixth
Compiled from reports by Stuff and The Post.
