Central Districts Cricket Association

The Chapple Cup was first contested in the 1977/78 season.

It's named in honour of former New Zealand Test captain, pioneer Central Stag and prolific Hawke Cup allrounder, MURRAY CHAPPLE who had starred for both Wairarapa and Manawatū at District level.

This is a trophy that naturally holds pride of place in any District Association's cabinet. It's also a special event that all the men's rep teams from the eight Districts of CD look forward to - as it's the only time each season that all eight of these teams get to play against each other at the same venue.

An annual tournament contested in the white-ball formats, Taranaki, Manawatū, Nelson, Marlborough, Horowhenua-Kāpiti, Hawke's Bay, Whanganui and Wairarapa compete over three days, starting on a Friday - the randomised first-round draw dictating who plays whom.

After the first day's results, the winning four teams continue to the Chapple Cup semi-finals on the Saturday, while the bottom four teams now compete for the Cave Cup, named after Whanganui, Central Stags and BLACKCAPS legend HARRY CAVE.

Sunday, the final day of the tournament, sees all teams in action once again, with all eyes naturally on the Chapple Cup and Cave Cup 1v2 finals.

DID YOU KNOW? The 8 antler points on the CDCA logo represent our 8 District Associations!

The 2025/26 CHAPPLE CUP will be held before Christmas this season, in Palmerston North (Fitzherbert Park) from 19 to 21 December 2025. Wairarapa's men are heading in as defending champions for the first time, in CD's 75th jubilee season. The tournament will be livescored as usual on CD PlayHQ and, as always, it's free admission every day to see inter-Districts cricket at its finest.

The first round draw will be announced closer to the time on CD Cricket's social media channels, but ink in the tournament dates now:

Friday 19 December 2025 • round one
Saturday 20 December 2025 • semi-finals
Sunday 21 December 2025 • Chapple Cup, Cave Cup finals + playoffs

HISTORY

Manawatū and Hawke's Bay have often dominated the Chapple Cup, but in recent years the silverware has ventured further afield
When Taranaki lifted the Chapple Cup in 2018, it was Taranaki's first win in nine years
Nelson last won the Chapple Cup in 2020/21
When Wairarapa lifted the 2024/25 Chapple Cup - convincingly, it was the very first time that Wairarapa had won the title. In the same summer,
Wairarapa's women won the equivalent Mike Shrimpton Trophy

FORMAT

• Since 2022/23, the tournament has been live-scored online at PlayHQ. Previous seasons' archives are housed on CricHQ

• The first round is randomly drawn, and announced on CDCA social media channels in the weeks leading up to the tournament

• The tournament is always played over a weekend, beginning on a Friday and culminating in a Finals day on the Sunday

• The four winning teams on Day One progress to play for the Chapple Cup, while the four losing sides play for the Cave Cup

• The 'main draw matches are all one-day contests. The Day 2 (Saturday) winners meet in their respective Chapple and Cave Cup Finals on Sunday, while the unsuccessful teams finish their tournament by playing T20 matches on the Sunday to sort out the minor placings.

HISTORY

• Manawatū and Hawke's Bay have often dominated the Chapple Cup, but in recent years the silverware has ventured further afield. When Taranaki lifted the Chapple Cup in 2018, it was Taranaki's first win in nine years
• Nelson last won the Chapple Cup in 2020/21
• When Wairarapa lifted the 2024/25 Chapple Cup - convincingly, it was the very first time that Wairarapa had won the title. In the same summer, Wairarapa's women won the equivalent Mike Shrimpton Trophy.

Playing Conditions

As per NZC One-Day Playing Conditions 2022/23*

* one white Kookaburra regulation 156g ball per innings.

* Please note Amended Playing Condition: Format of ODI matches

* Running the non-striker out before the ball is bowled:

The bowler must issue a warning to the non-striker who, in the umpire’s opinion, was out of their crease at the time of the incident.
The warning must be made to the umpire at the non-striker's end before the next ball is delivered.
The warning will last the duration of that innings and apply to all batters.
The umpires will make all incoming batters aware if a warning has been issued

Cyclone Gabrielle led to late changes to last season's tournament, played at Donnelly Park, Levin on 18 and 19 February 2023.

The cyclone hit in the week building up to the tournament, resulting in the withdrawal of Hawke's Bay due to the heavy impact on the region and its community.

Ground conditions in Manawatū were also affected. CDCA therefore agreed with the eight Districts representatives to shift the Chapple Cup tournament from Fitzherbert Park to Levin, and to reconfigure the tournament as a two-day T20 tournament for 2023 - with one pool of four teams (with a bye) and one pool of three, with cross-over Finals, and the Chapple and Cave Cup awarded on that basis.

Teams observed a minute's silence for Cyclone Gabrielle victims before the tournament got underway, and Hawke's Bay remained in everyone's throughts throughout.

Whanganui enjoyed a strong weekend, and met Manawatū in the Chapple Cup Final, while Taranaki beat Wairarapa for the Cave Cup.

TOURNAMENT SCORES

2021/22 CHAMPION : HAWKE'S BAY

The 2021/22 Chapple Cup was hosted in Palmerston North 18-20 February 2022, and was played as a T20 round robin between six teams as the country grappled with the COVID-19 Omicron outbreak, and Wairarapa and Marlborough elected not to participate.

After a busy Friday and Saturday at Fitzherbert and Manawaroa Parks, the final round on Sunday was washed out and, as the only undefeated team after the first four rounds, Hawke's Bay reclaimed the title they last held two seasons ago, Manawatū finishing as runner-up.