The Paparata Farm King Country Rams begin their 2026 Heartland Championship campaign on Saturday, August 15, when they travel to Levin to take on Horowhenua-Kapiti.

Loose forward Kaharoa Takuira-Mita touches down in the Rams’ only preseason game against a Barbarians side. Photo: King Country Rugby

By Andrew (Chainsaw) McCullough

Coach Aarin Dunster will take his Heartland squad into the opening encounter, fresh and keen after just one warm-up match.

There will be plenty at stake in Levin, with the Rams also looking to win back the Bill Osborne Taonga after losing it to Horowhenua-Kapiti 46–36 last season.

The Bill Osborne Taonga is contested between Heartland unions along similar lines to the Ranfurly Shield, adding extra significance to Saturday's season opener.

The Rams' only pre-season hit-out came against a strong NZ Barbarians side featuring club players from Auckland, North Harbour and Counties Manukau. King Country went down 53–33, but the match provided valuable preparation ahead of the Heartland campaign, with several new players making their mark.

With the competition compressed into just eight regular season matches followed by semi-finals and finals, there is little room for teams to drop early games. The Rams will therefore be looking to make an immediate statement and return home from Levin with a valuable win.

Among those leading the side is 55-game veteran hooker Liam Rowlands, who will again provide experience and leadership up front. Rowlands and halfback Kristian Gent-Standen were both selected in the NZ Heartland XV last season and will be hoping their performances in 2026 again catch the attention of the selectors.

The Rams have also strengthened their squad with several loan players from Waikato, bringing additional depth in areas Dunster identified as needing reinforcement.

Young prop Hemi Gardiner and midfielder Tairoa Crean both impressed during the Barbarians match, while first five-eighth Hone Mathieson is a welcome addition after returning to Taumarunui following club and representative age-grade rugby in Taranaki.

Te Kuiti's Patrick Hedley is back for his third season with the Rams after helping Hautapu win the Waikato club competition final. His reliable goal-kicking will be a major asset, having topped 100 points in each of his previous seasons.

Following Saturday's opener, the Rams return home for a major rugby day at Te Kuiti the following weekend when they host Thames Valley. Representative teams from both provinces will take the field throughout the day, with the Heartland clash providing a significant early-season test.

Thames Valley have been among the leading Heartland unions for a number of years, making the match an important early barometer of where the Rams sit in 2026.

The Rams' Heartland campaign also includes away fixtures against North Otago, Wairarapa Bush and Whanganui, while South Canterbury will visit Te Kuiti, East Coast will be hosted at Taupō on September 19, and Buller will travel to Taumarunui.

There will be plenty of representative rugby across the region this season, with the Big Horns B team, Trailblazers women's team and age-grade sides all preparing for full campaigns.

For the King Country Rams, however, the immediate focus is firmly on Levin.

After a short pre-season, a new-look squad and the Bill Osborne Taonga up for grabs, the 2026 Heartland Championship gets underway with plenty to play for.