On Saturday I rolled on in Pukekohe and waved bye-bye to the Ranfurly Shield. Hawkes Bay were deserving winners and the we (Counties) were lucky to be in a position to win the match at the death, as such another chapter in Counties history has come to and end.
We don’t mind Hawkes Bay taking it home with them, we defended it six times over nearly 12 months, and we loved it well while it was here.
Two full on street parades when the team brought it home, after winning it off none other than Hawkes Bay, then a week of visiting the smaller communities and schools.
And the games, oh the games! Matches that would usually draw 2000-3000, saw 12,000-15,000 turn out. Counties played some fantastic rugby and good folk of the province loved every moment of it.
All New Zealand followers on The Roar will be familiar with the “log of wood” or just “the log” and some will have special shield memories themselves and most serious rugby followers in Australia and South Africa would, at least, know of it.
But for those who don’t, the Ranfurly Shield is a 110 year trophy with a fantastic history and a source of strength for New Zealand rugby, especially before it all went professional.
To begin with, Auckland who had the best record in 1902, were awarded the shield.
From 1902 onward the the rules to win the shield have remained simple. The holder would put it up for grabs when they played at home.
If the challenger wins, then the losing holders captain would present it to the winning captain on the field.
The first challenge was by Wellington in 1904 and the shield changed hands in that first match.
It wasn’t a really big deal in 1904, but in the 1920s Hawkes Bay won it for the first time and after what is still considered one of the great shield eras, the shield was firmly established as the most sought after trophy in New Zealand rugby.
‘Shield rugby’ was always considered to be as near Test match intensity outside of the international game and any All Black team would have a heavy weighting of players from team that hung on to the log for any length of time.
Often good players, All Blacks, would be remembered more for being a key member of a successful shield team than playing for New Zealand.
Your much loved ex-coach Robbie Deans was one, a key member of Grizz Wyllies Canterbury shield team of 82-85. And some All Blacks would rate their shield experience as the highlight of their career, over All Black selection.
Prior to 1976, New Zealand had no national competition, rather, the domestic rugby scene was a hodgepodge of home and away games, traditional rivalries and inter-provincial trophies.
The draw was decided early in the season at NZRFU headquarters. In what was known as the “woolsale”, delegates from the respecive provinces would argue over who should play who and when, with things like lambing in Southland and calving in Taranaki and Waikato having a very real influence on the scheduling of “big” games.
The only national competition was the Ranfurly shield. But being the best team in the land didn’t mean you held it, or even got a challenge. Even if you did have a challenge scheduled, another team may have stolen it away the week before your game!
After 1976, when the National Provincial Championship (NPC) was born the shield remained the number one prize in domestic rugby undisputed for a number of years.
But as the rich got stronger, mainly Auckland and Canterbury, it lost some lustre, as it didn’t seem as if the Hawkes Bays or Southlands of this world would ever have the resources to wrestle it off the big boys.
Professional rugby, if anything has helped the shield.
With the All Blacks out of the NPC, and Super Rugby players spread around the provinces a bit more, in recent years Taranaki, Southland, Otago, Hawkes Bay and Counties have all won it and these unions have loved there time, be short or not with the shield.
Packed out stadiums of fans watching local, and some imported, heroes play while the shield sat on the sideline, waiting for the winning captain. In these areas, bringing home the shield, means plenty, just like it used too.
I don’t know why it was important to me, a lifelong rugby fan, apart from it has just always been a big deal from my earliest rugby memories.
I guess the currency is history.
I have read some articles and comments on The Roar expressing dissatisfaction around Australia’s new domestic competition, the NRC.
Is really hard to feel an affinity with any new sporting entity, that feeling is still around in some degree in New Zealand regarding Super Rugby.
Most fans in Tauranga and Pukekohe find it easier to support Bay of Plenty or Counties, but we know Super Rugby is the big show and the Chiefs are our team. But that is changing, kids now are growing up, having followed the Chiefs all their short lives and don’t have the preconceptions of more… mature fans.
My advice to Australian rugby fans with regard to the NRC. If your 30+ maybe it will never “ring your bell”, but this is an investment, short term- a pathway for player development and longer term, as a standalone competition that has its own merit.
It may take 20-25 years, but if this competition is running in 2040, it will have the richness of tradition and spice of rivalries.
The most historic trophy in New Zealand, the Ranfurly Shield, was regarded as “a nuisance and detrimental to the sport” in the beginning, but thankfully rugby people of the day didn’t stick it in a cupboard and forget it. 20 years later, ‘Shield rugby’ as we know it had grown from those early seeds into a mighty oak.
The same can happen in with the NRC.
Perhaps your role as rugby supporters, is to put aside your personal misgivings and play a part in nurturing its growth. Maybe you won’t live to see it in 30-40 years as a backbone of Australian rugby and an anticipated competition each season, but you would have played a part its success.
Zack
Roar Rookie
A group of 15 of us followed the Shield on every road trip, starting with the first time Auckland took it on the road to Te Kuiti. There are so many memorable moments, like Frank Bunce's debut for Auckland as a replacement on the wing: Michael Jones was at the end of a backline move, and had a clear run to the line but unselfishly chose to pass it to newbie Bunce to run in from about the 22...who promptly dropped the ball!! Or when Waikato ended the 61-defence run when Gatland illegally used his hand in a scrum to steal our put-in for a turnover. The Shield is provincial rugby in NZ.
Bay Man
Guest
The Shield is home at McLean Pk, Napier, Hawkes Bay. Where it belongs.
Old Bugger
Guest
Sheek Cheers mate. I have to admit - I was gob-smacked by the changes that were introduced for this new competition. However, I guess the jury is still out so I'm prepared to wait till comp's end before commenting. Those attendance figures are staggering....seems the rugby fraternity is on its knees atm and needs something beyond a shot in the arm to get back on its feet. But, it just has to work - somehow, somewhere, something has gotta go in the right direction surely mate. It just doesn't bare to think about an "otherwise" scenario even if its "flawed" as you suggest.
sheek
Roar Guru
Just adding to the above: Crowds for first two rounds of ARC in 2007 - 30, 611. Crowds for first two rounds of NRC in 2014 - 14, 900. It's all very well to say we need a comp to bridge the gap between premier rugby & super rugby. It's also all very well to say we need joint-venture self-funded clubs. But those clubs also need to engage their communities. But heck, what would I know.....
sheek
Roar Guru
Old Bugger, iI's a wonderful sentiment, to implore rugby fans to get out & watch the NRC. I'm a rugby fan, I support the concept of a national comp, have argued for one for over 30 years, but I won't support something that I see as being severely flawed. Makes no sense to me at all to support a lost cause. Some of the NRC clubs are well conceived, others are poorly conceived. Consequently, it's uneven, & it's reflected in poor crowd attendances, which are running roughly half of those of the ARC in 2007. The scary thing is that the 2nd round in 2007 was the high water mark before crowds began a slow but definite decline. In 2014, despite many free tickets, crowds are abysmal. I'm fascinated how some diehard fans can convince themselves that a 2000 crowd, with plenty of free tickets, is somehow encouraging. It's not. When announcing the NRC, Bill Pulver boasted he wanted this comp to last forever. It won't because it's a band-aid solution, a quick fix. It doesn't have the smell of permanency about it. This is nothing like the NPC or Currie Cup, or even the Ranfurley Shield, in the concept of participating teams. Aussie rugby folk need to stop kidding themselves that 'something' is better than 'nothing.' Not when the 'something' is as flawed as this NRC.
atlas
Guest
in my 'for the good of rugby' thoughts, I think the Ranfurly Shield contributes far more when it's being held by a province away from Auckland and Canterbury; such a boost recently for Counties-Manukau when they got to win it for the first time ever, similarly what we'll see again for Hawke's Bay even if they lose it, generates so much interest. And as comments show, people remember a Shield tenure far more than any ITM Cup success.
jimmyd
Guest
My fondest memory of shield rugby was Arthur Stones intercept try for Waikato against Auckland ....magic mooloo...yeah
Tissot Time
Guest
Thanks JeffRo and Sorted when I read the article my immediate RS memory was of Wayne Smith putting the hammer down to take the Shield South. I was at both of those matches and we had a permanent spot under the broadcasting box on the Lancaster Park Bank which we later renamed The Lescarboura Stand after Jean-Patrick's drop goal in 1984. Many memories and too many beers.
Emric
Guest
I was at Eden park in 2008 when Wellington took the shield what a night what a game
katzilla
Roar Guru
The great thing is with hawkes Bay hosting the All Blacks v Argentina, there will be extra seating around for the first shield defence. Mclean park for two weekends will become NZs premier rugby ground. Go the actual and real Bay! Hopefully our defence lasts longer then the last......(I guess it has to with 2 weeks between winning and first defence lol)
JeffRo
Roar Pro
Yes it is.
kunming tiger
Guest
I remember having to climb up a tree when I was a kid to watch games because I couldn't afford to pay to get into the ground. Now days people bitch because it's not streamed live onto their i phone or on FTA into their living rooms, Good article and valid points most of the negativity is out of Sydney it will pass by with time. They whine about the lack of tribalism but I bet the highlight of this season's NRC as far as the non Sydney teams supporters are concerned will be seeing the composite SS teams planted firmly at the bottom of the ladder.
leftfield
Roar Pro
I was at that game in '96, and I wasn't all too pleased. By the end of the year the shield was back where it should be though. There's something about the shield that has me looking at the draw, trying to think of permutations that will result in my team having a crack at it. Sadly I have concluded it will be impossible for Auckland to win the shield this year.
atlas
Guest
cheers for the article, a good positive story; I was working in New Plymouth, Taranaki when they won the Shield in 1996; street parade, and the first defence, v North Harbour who were expected to take it home with them - the business I worked for, like many others, closed at lunchtime. Everyone went to Rugby Park (Yarrow Stadium). Taranaki won that day, but lost to neighbouring rivals Waikato at the next defence. Taranaki have since held the Shield again, 8 defences 2011-12, and again lost it to Waikato - and the greatest of NZ team mascot rivalries - Ferdinand the Bull v Mooloo the Cow. Yes there were rude banners! With all the pro rugby, amazing the RS still such an attraction. Otago had 22,000 for their match v Hawke's Bay last year - when HB won and took it north; on the 14th Otago have a chance to take it back with them, their challenge at Mclean Park in Napier. HBRU reported as keeping the extra seating in place (for the All Blacks v Argentina test there this Saturday, takes capacity to 22,000) in hope they'll fill the ground on consecutive weekends. Optimistic, maybe, but even 15,000 a bonus for regional rugby.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Ahhh Jeffro .... I recall the heady days when Auckland held the shield back in the early 60's, 25 or 26 in a row. Then mid to late 80's when the fans shifted from behind one goal post to the other at half time... Must of been rather demotivating for the challengers to see that! Very special memories and talking of memories, Auckland was coached by John Hart late 80's and there was furore as he was not chosen to coach the AB's for the inaugural RWC. I think politics came into play on that decision particularly over his record and the dominating number of Aucklanders in the AB team.
Clark
Guest
I spent 17 years in Southland and moved up to Christchurch. Witnessing the Stags take the shield in front of all my Canterbury supporting mates has to date been one of the greatest sporting moments I have watched live, those types of upsets are what makes the shield so special.
Sorted
Guest
I was at Athletic Park in '82 when the gasoline kid(Wayne Smith) scooted into the corner, scoring the try to take the shield south. I was also at Lancaster Park, when Bernie Fraser dropped the ball with an open try line. Rob Dean kicked the penalty right in front of us to put the game away. It is the Log and the NPC competition that enables the continued development of the game here. The Ozzies look with envy at the depth we have here, and it is primarily because of these competitions that keep the young players coming through. I love the NPC and the Shield.
Old Bugger
Guest
JeffRo Couldn't have said it any better mate - well done. There are numerous Oz roares who have been critical of where the SR comp is or isn't heading because of the lack of a tribalistic gathering similar to what supporters see in the NRL and AFL comps. It seemed to me that SR sides were missing the key ingredient to grab the wider support typical in the other leagues - a sense of tribalism. Well, as you say, the NRC may take 20-25yrs before someone or something flicks the switch like Hawkes Bay did in 1920, but the Oz supporters just need to keep supporting, get more folk supporting and stay the course. They now have an interstate club competition that is just begging to be followed and yet what is it we see in the headlines - folks want more PR information available to help them digest, think about or even consider the comps worthiness perhaps, to watch over another sport. Bottom line is - if you have to toss a coin to watch a game played by your sport and a game played in another sport, then your heart really isn't there to give full support to any of those sports....it's there only for what tickles your fancy to watch. That IMO, is not a supporter but someone who just likes watching sport. The NRC is screaming for supporters - get out there, see the game and show it, then decide for yourself whether its all been worthwhile instead of asking for more PR information about the comp. Then, go out and convince your mates to do likewise and so on and so on......and who knows, 2025 just may be the breakthrough year when the NRC is up there challenging for TV rights.
Eddard
Roar Guru
Speaking of the Ranfurly Shield and the NRC there's been a great suggestion from someone at Green and Gold Rugby for a similar shield challenge trophy to be contested by NRC teams starting from next year. The suggestion is for the shield to be named after former Brumbies player Shawn Mackay: http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nrc-proposal-shawn-mackay-memorial-shield/ I think that's a really fantastic idea.
richard
Guest
Really.I have a tape of the game,I will have to look for it.