CNI 1st XV Rugby Announces Full Live Broadcast Of 2026 CNI Rugby Season On Whakaata Māori And Maori + YouTube Channel

CNI 1st XV Rugby is excited to announce that the entire 2026 Central North Island (CNI) 1st XV Rugby season will be broadcast live on the Maori + YouTube channel, marking a significant milestone for one of Aotearoa’s most competitive 1st XV rugby competitions.

For the first time, all 54 matches of the CNI Rugby season will be available to viewers across the motu and around the world, free to watch and accessible on any device. Select games will also be broadcast on Whakaata Maori.

This partnership represents a major step forward in expanding the reach, visibility, and mana of CNI 1st XV Rugby, providing unprecedented access to the competition for the players, schools, and communities involved.

CNI 1st XV Rugby Chair Nathan Stewart welcomed the announcement, highlighting the positive impact on families spread across the region.

“Travel across the CNI 1st XV Rugby competition can be challenging for many whānau, with long distances often making it difficult to support their sons in person,” Stewart said.

“Having every match streamed live removes that barrier. It ensures parents, grandparents, and wider communities – no matter where they live – can stay connected to the team and share in the pride of each performance.”

“We are proud to bring the full season of First XV rugby to audiences on MĀORI+ and our MĀORI+ YouTube channel,” said Maria Barlow, Whakaata Māori Director of Content & Audience Engagement.

“Delivering these live games with reo Māori commentary is a powerful way to bring our language into the heart of sport.”

“It ensures rangatahi and whānau can experience the excitement, skill and rivalries of CNI rugby through te reo Māori, helping normalise the language in spaces our communities love, both across Aotearoa and for audiences watching around the world,” said Maria Barlow.

The 2026 season promises to be one of the most exciting yet, with a return to a 10-team competition and with schools starting to prepare for a strongly contested 2026 campaign.

The expanded broadcast coverage opens a new horizon for CNI 1st XV Rugby—strengthening engagement, celebrating regional identity, and elevating the next generation of rugby talent.

The first match of the season will kick off in early May, with full scheduling and broadcast links to be released in the coming weeks.

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