Provincial bragging rights are back up for grabs when the Heartland Championship kicks off in August.

Thames Valley and King Country have lifted the silverware on finals weekend in rugby's Heartland Championship.

The New Zealand Heartland XV has been named, featuring fresh faces and a former All Black in the mix.

The Heartland Championship's Meads Cup semifinals are almost set after another round of big scores.

Defending Meads Cup champions South Canterbury the first to secure a top-four Heartland Championship finish.

Running rugby was the phrase of the day in the latest round of the Heartland Championship.

It seems that no Heartland Championship team wants to keep the Bill Osborne Taonga.