The 2009 Air New Zealand Cup was a provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand, which was run as a round-robin tournament from 30 July to 25 October. There were 13 rounds where every team played each other once. The top four teams on the Air New Zealand Cup table advanced to the semi-finals, where they played for a chance in the Grand Final.
Most weeks, one game was played on Thursday at 7:35 pm (NZ Time), two games on Fridays both starting at 7:35 pm, three games on Saturdays at 2:35, 5:30 and 7:35 pm and one game on Sundays at 2:35 pm. Again, this is most common, there were games played at 4:30 or 6:30 pm and more or less games played on certain days, e.g. Thursdays and Saturdays.
The highlight of round one was the first up Ranfurly Shield challenge when Wellington beat Otago 23-19, Otago had the chance to own the shield for the first time in 52 years.
On Saturday, three of the major unions went down to their lesser counterparts;
Hawke's Bay recorded its first win over Auckland in Air New Zealand/NPC history and their first win over Auckland since 1974.
North Harbour recorded a shock win over defending champions Canterbury in their first game of the season, Michael Harris lead the 22-19 victory recording 17 points.
Southland beat Waikato 16-6, their first win over the Mooloo men since 2003.
When Southland beat Otago 26-19 at Carisbrook, it was the 232nd time these two teams had matched up, the most played provincial rivalry in New Zealand rugby.
Tasman's 19-15 victory over North Harbour on 7 August was the first time in their history that they have beaten them.
When Northland ran out onto the field at the Kerikeri Domain it was the first time they have played in the province outside of Whangarei since 1976, and the first time Kerikeri have hosted an Air New Zealand/NPC match.[9]
Taranaki and Hawke's Bay played in the first drawn match of the season when they matched up 24 a piece at the full-time whistle, it was also refereed for the first time by a referee outside the country with Australian Nathan Pearce taking the officiators duty.
On 16 August Tasman and Counties Manukau played against each other for the first time in their history with Tasman winning 51-15.
Wellington won their second Ranfurly Shield challenge 16-15 against Auckland on 22 August, with some significant moments,
it is now the longest Wellington has held onto the shield since 1953; and
Fa'atonu Fili landed his 3rd drop goal of the competition, the most in any Air New Zealand Cup season, it also made Wellington the holder of the most drop goals in a season by a team with 2 being the previous record.
When Canterbury beat Tasman 25 to 21, it was the closest that Tasman had come to winning against their Crusader counterparts.
Counties Manukau were only team left in the competition without a win but ended that when they recorded a 33-21 win over Taranaki on 23 August.
When Southland beat North Harbour 24 to 22, it was the first time Southland had beaten North Harbour at their home stadium.
Hawke's Bay scored the first penalty try of the season in their 28-26 victory over Tasman on 28 August.
Auckland and Bay of Plenty contested for the new trophy, the John Drake Boot, named after John Drake, who died December 2008, Auckland won the trophy by winning 29 points to 14. This was also Bay of Plenty's first loss of the season.
When Tasman played Waikato on 11 September, it was officiated by Australian Andrew Lees, who was the second Australian to referee an Air New Zealand Cup match this season.
When Taranaki beat Wellington on 10 September, it was their first NPC/Air New Zealand Cup win over Wellington in 20 years.
When Southland beat Bay of Plenty 19-12 on 11 September, they earned the 4 competition points to gain them the top position on the points table, the first time ever Southland have achieved this in the first division of New Zealand provincial rugby.
Englishman Wayne Barnes refereed the game between Wellington and Southland, he was the third referee outside the country to referee an Air New Zealand Cup match this season.
Canterbury became the first team in the competition to qualify for the semifinals with their victory over Manawatu.
Despite sitting in 10th place immediately after their loss on 9 October, Manawatu was the second team to be eliminated from semifinal contention.
When Hawke's Bay beat Counties Manukau 54-8, it was the largest winning margin between the two teams.
Northland's David Holwell celebrated his 100th game for the province against his old union, Wellington on 11 October.
Taranaki and Tasman were the first teams this season to be held scoreless, when they played Auckland and Southland on 9 and 10 October.
Otago was eliminated from semifinal contention when they lost to Waikato. Waikato's victory also eliminated North Harbour and Northland bringing the total of eliminated teams to five.
Tasman became the eighth team to be eliminated from playoff contention when they lost to Otago on 17 October. They were also held scoreless for the second straight week after losing to Southland in Round 11 41-0.
Six teams remained in contention for the semi-finals at the beginning of the round (Canterbury, Wellington, Southland, Waikato, Hawke's Bay and Auckland); and of these only Canterbury was guaranteed a position.
Southland obtained the Ranfurly Shield for the first time since 1959 when they beat Canterbury 9 points to 3 on 22 October. In the process, they became the second team to book themselves a place in the semi-finals.
Wellington clinched a home semi-final after their win against Tasman on 23 October. The victory also cemented Southland as the third-place team in the Round Robin and as Wellington's semifinal opponent.
Auckland was the ninth team to be eliminated from semifinal contention with Hawke's Bay victory over Northland on 23 October.
Manawatu beat North Harbour for the first time ever, winning 42-16 on 24 October. Manawatu's Andre Taylor also equaled the record for most points scored in an Air New Zealand Cup game with 27, including 2 tries, 2 penalty goals, 4 conversions and 1 drop goal.
Hawke's Bay won the last playoff spot and Waikato was the tenth and final team eliminated from semifinal contention when Auckland beat Waikato on 24 October.
Canterbury
Wellington
Southland (RS)
Hawke's Bay
Auckland
Waikato
Bay of Plenty
Taranaki
Tasman
Otago
Manawatu
North Harbour
Northland
Counties Manukau
Auckland
Bay of Plenty
Canterbury
Counties Manukau
Hawke's Bay
Manawatu
North Harbour
Northland
Otago
Southland
Taranaki
Tasman
Waikato
Wellington
Tasman
Taranaki
Bay of Plenty
Northland
Wellington (RS)
Otago
Hawke's Bay
Auckland
North Harbour
Canterbury
Southland
Waikato
Manawatu
Counties Manukau