Watch NZ's Canterbury v Waikato: commentary from Andrew Mulligan, James Parsons and Taylah Johnson

The New Zealand NPC featuring Canterry v Waikato gets under way at 01:35 UK time on Monday, 11 October 2026, with commentary from three voices headlined to a freshly expanded team. It is the first of the 16-week season to be called by Andrew Mulligan, who returns to lead the play-by-play after a quiet period, with James Parsons and Taylah Johnson alongside as co-commentators.

For those tuning in from the UK and Ireland, the match is available on Sky Sport 2 NZ, alongside the New Zealand Provincial Rugby YouTube channel and RugiPass TV. Australia-based viewers can follow along on Stan Sport (AU), while New Zealanders have the usual SuperSport Rugby HD and TVNZ+ feeds to choose from. A geo-restricted variant of TVNZ+ is also on offer for viewers who want the tighter local stream.

Meet the commentary team

Andrew Mulligan heads out as the main commentator once more, rejoining the hoops to lead the team through the season. He features in the announcement from G.J. Gardner Homes Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa, which describes his return and the wider reshuffle of callers. The notes also refer to the Otago Nuggets looking to defend its 2022 legacy, a nod to the squad Mulligan's side of the game represents.

James Parsons joins as a co-commentator and is tallied on the ICDb's Sky Sport 1 NZ / HD commentator stats, ranking behind the veteran names. He has shared commentary duties with the team before, most recently alongside Taylah Johnson on the 26 September 2026 Northland v Counties Manukau NPC.

Taylah Johnson rounds out the trio. Her ICDb profile lists her as a commentator on Sky Sport NZ, with a bio noting she is a former three-time NZ National BMX champion and current Samoa & Counties lock. She is also called out in the G.J. Gardner Homes announcement, which flags her as one of the new faces bringing her experience to the season.

The game itself

Canterry will want to hold their ground against Waikato, with both squads drawing on the years of practice that have shaped their tactics. With Andrew Mulligan tracking the opening moves and James Parsons and Taylah Johnson keeping the play-by-play steady, the commentary should capture the full flow of the match from first kick-off to the final tally.

Whether you are watching on Sky Sport 2 NZ, the NZ Provincial Rugby YouTube feed, or one of the Australian and New Zealand channels, this season opener has a full commentary team in place. Tune in before 01:35 UK time and catch the Canterbury v Waikato battle from start to finish.

Article generated: 11 October 2026, 01:36 GMT