The National Provincial Championship turns 50 this year, and for the past months fans across New Zealand have been voting for the 50 greatest players and the 50 greatest moments in its history. The voting is closed. The nation has spoken, and the countdown has started.
Every day at 6pm a new pair steps up: one player and one moment, side by side, counting down to the No. 1. The countdown opened with No. 10: Christian Cullen for Wellington, and Otago against the British & Irish Lions in 1993. Then came No. 9: Bernie Fraser for Wellington, and the 1994 Battle of the Bridge for North Harbour.
Every day at 6pm a new pair steps up: one player and one moment, side by side, counting down to the No. 1. The countdown opened with No. 10: Christian Cullen for Wellington, and Otago against the British & Irish Lions in 1993. Then came No. 9: Bernie Fraser for Wellington, and the 1994 Battle of the Bridge for North Harbour.
How we got here
The campaign started with the 14 provincial unions, who manage their own players and moments on the site. Supporters voted for their favourites and shared their picks. More than 70,000 votes were cast in phase one alone, with all 14 unions, media and players behind the campaign.
From more than 5,000 players who wore the jersey, the unions nominated 2,182, the provinces picked 711, and New Zealand decided the final 50. The 238 nominated moments went through the same road to their own final 50.
The Top 50 is already on the board at npc50.nz/top-50, and the Top 10 is the last chapter.
From more than 5,000 players who wore the jersey, the unions nominated 2,182, the provinces picked 711, and New Zealand decided the final 50. The 238 nominated moments went through the same road to their own final 50.
The Top 50 is already on the board at npc50.nz/top-50, and the Top 10 is the last chapter.
Built in Taranaki
NPC50.nz was built in Taranaki by The Dabble Creative, XAVER and with collaboration of the Rugby Database. We built the platform from scratch: the union admin, the voting, the Top 50 and now the daily countdown.
Follow the countdown at npc50.nz/top-10, and come back every day at 6pm for the next pair!
Follow the countdown at npc50.nz/top-10, and come back every day at 6pm for the next pair!
From a marketing idea to something real
"Let the fans pick the 50 greatest" fits in one sentence. Making it real meant 14 unions managing their own players and moments, a vote that could take tens of thousands of picks, a Top 50 to rank, and now a countdown that opens one pair of cards every evening. That is the part we enjoy most: taking an idea that sounds simple in a meeting and turning it into something people actually use.
Most good campaign ideas stop at the slide deck because nobody knows how to build them. If you, your team or your agency have one sitting there, what would it look like if your audience could take part in it? We would love to help you find out.
Most good campaign ideas stop at the slide deck because nobody knows how to build them. If you, your team or your agency have one sitting there, what would it look like if your audience could take part in it? We would love to help you find out.
