The main feature of the year was the second season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League.
The Hibiscus Coast Raiders won the Cup by defeating the Eastern Tornadoes 28–18 in the Grand Final.
The New Zealand national rugby league team played a one-off test match against France and defeated them 36–0 at Ericsson Stadium.
Jeff Whittaker coached the South Island team that featured mainly Canterbury Bulls players.
This competition included Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Coastline-Bay of Plenty Mariners, Taranaki, Manawatu and Wellington.
[31] The second Mainland Super 10 competition was held between Canterbury Rugby League clubs and the South Island provincial teams.
The teams involved included the Tasman Orcas (coached by Paul Bergman), Otago Raiders, Southland Rams and seven clubs from Canterbury: the Haswell Hornets, Hornby Panthers, Eastern Sea Eagles, Papanui Tigers, Riccarton Knights, Sydenham Swans and the Linwood Kews.
The Northcote Tigers won the Fox Memorial trophy, defeating Richmond 30–29 in the grand final.
The Waitara Bears defeated Marist 14–10 in the Taranaki Rugby League grand final.