Watch live from Albany - ITM Cup New Zealand Rugby - - rugby.trueonlinetv.com
The 2011 ITM Cup is the 35th provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand, the sixth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the second under the new sponsor of ITM (Independent Timber Merchants).
The new competition format from 2011 will see 14 teams split into two divisions of seven teams based on their on-field finishing positions in 2010. The top seven teams will form the Premiership and the bottom seven the Championship. Teams will play all other teams in their division plus four teams from the other division (there will be an innovative new process for teams to select their cross-division opponents with the detail to be finalised in the first quarter of 2011). All matches will carry full competition points. Due to the ITM Cup season running up against the 2011 Rugby World Cup, to be held in September and October in New Zealand, the competition window will be truncated. Three midweek matches will be held during the regular season, and there will be no semi-finals; the top two teams in both the Championship and Premiership will advance directly to their respective finals. Semi-finals will return to both competitions in 2012.[1]
The winner of the Championship will receive automatic promotion to the Premiership replacing the 7th placed team in the Premiership which will be relegated to the Championship.
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Date: Thursday, August 19
Venue: North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Kick-off: 19:35
Referee: Bryce Lawrence
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