previously known as the new zealand divisional xv, this team was revamped in 2006. only players who have participated in the previous season's heartland championship are eligible for selection; this makes it effectively a heartland all-star team. this team traditionally goes on second-level tours; their first tour under the heartland name was a 2006 end-of-year tour to argentina, where they played two provincial teams and the argentina a side, splitting the provincial matches and losing to argentina a.