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Eight-seven provincial teams will compete in the national touch championships -- being held in the South Island for the first time for 12 years ? which start at Queen Elizabeth II Park tomorrow.

Canterbury are defending the blue riband titles, the men's and women's opens, with these grades starting on Wednesday. The finals are on Saturday, March 5.

With largely the same squads as last year, the men, coached by Scott Grant, and the women, coached by Cally Hoani, are favourites to retain their crowns.

The men's runners-up last year, Counties, have lost most of their players to Auckland and North Harbour and have not entered.

Bay of Plenty defend the mixed open title.

The tournament will decide places in the New Zealand open, mixed, and veterans grade teams for the inaugural All Nations championships at the same venue in October.

This will be the biggest international touch event held in New Zealand, with at least 10 countries sending teams.

Several Pacific countries, Australia, England, Wales, Scotland, the United States, Singapore, India, and Thailand are among the entrants so far.