Ranfurly Shield

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Lore & Background

In 1901 the Governor of New Zealand, The 5th Earl of Ranfurly, announced that he would present a cup to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union to be used as the prize in a competition of their choosing. When the trophy, a shield, arrived, the NZRFU decided that it would be awarded to the union with the best record in the 1902 season, and thenceforth be the subject of a challenge system. Auckland, unbeaten in 1902, was presented with the shield. The shield was designed as a trophy for association football, not rugby. The picture in the centrepiece was a soccer one, and was modified by adding goal posts on the soccer goal in the picture to create a rugby scene. The alterations to the centrepiece are still apparent. Auckland were on tour in 1903 and did not play any home games, and thus did not have to defend the Shield. Their first defence was against Wellington in 1904, and was unsuccessful. Since the introduction of the National Provincial Championship in 1976, all home games a Shield-holder plays in the NPC or Heartland Championship, during league play are automatically challenge matches. In 1994 when Canterbury wrested the Shield from Waikato, it was in battered condition, with large cracks, chips and peeled varnish. Nearly a century of use had taken its toll. Canterbury player Chris England, skilled in woodwork, fully renovated it, bringing it back into pristine condition. In 2023 the Shield was restored over nine months by Tri Peek in Waikanae, Wellington, who had been repairing the trophy for several years before the full restoration decision. The original Oak shield was replaced with English Oak from the Hutt Valley in New Zealand, seasoned for 5 years. The badges, already recently replaced in 2012 were moved to the new shield. The old Shield, which had gradually become worn down by 118 years of handling and an untold number of celebrations, has been blessed and decommissioned by NZ Rugby Māori cultural adviser Luke Crawford, recognising its status as a taonga in rugby. The replacement shield was accidentally broken after being dropped on a concrete floor in September 2023 just after Hawke's Bay had won it from Wellington.

In Their Own Story

The history includes dramatic turning points and record-breaking runs. Auckland holds the record for the greatest number of consecutive defences with 61 matches between 14 September 1985 and 18 September 1993. During this period, Auckland took the Shield on tour to provincial unions unlikely to mount a challenge due to financial reasons; while dismissed by some critics for one-sided scores, it was regarded as a success by those involved. Southland holds the record for the shortest reign at just six days. In 2008, Auckland played their mandatory defences against Heartland teams on the road, demonstrating that while the holder is never forced to defend away, they may choose to do so. A unique rule ensures that once a team wins the Shield, all their home matches for the rest of the season become automatic defences. Wairarapa experienced a bizarre moment in 1927 when they lost to Hawke's Bay 21–10 at Solway Showgrounds Oval but were subsequently awarded the shield back on a residential breach.

Reader's Guide

The Shield holder at the end of each season is required to accept at least seven challenges for the following year. All home games during league play, but not during knockout playoffs, in the NPC or Heartland Championship are automatic challenges. The remaining shield defences must be made up of challenges from unions in the other domestic competition. The Shield-holder is never forced to defend the Shield in an away match, although they may choose to, as Auckland, for example, did on a number of occasions during their record tenure between 1985 and 1993. If a challenger successfully takes the Shield, all of their home matches for the rest of the season are defences of it.

Did You Know?

• Canterbury hold the record of the highest number of successful Ranfurly Shield challenges with 18 wins, two more than Auckland.
• Southland hold the record of the shortest Ranfurly Shield reign (six days).
• Auckland holds the record for the greatest number of consecutive Shield defences, 61 matches, a streak that ended on 25 September 1993 when they lost to Waikato.