New Zealand Rugby's plea to allow three Auckland provincial teams to leave the Super City and train in Taupo ahead of a return to the National Provincial Championship has been rejected

The exemption case dismissal from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment has also all but ended the participation of the three Auckland women's teams in the Farah Palmer Cup.

For the men's NPC, due to tight time constraints Auckland, North Harbour and Counties Manukau's participation may now be contingent on the competition featuring no semifinals or a final.

Under NZR's collective agreement, the NPC must be concluded by November 27 in order to give all players a four-week break before Super Rugby Pacific preseason games begin.