RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL
RANFURLY SHIELD
The Ranfurly Shield is New Zealand's premier rugby trophy. Presented to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union in 1902 by His Excellency the Earl of Ranfurly, the shield was awarded to Auckland, that union having the best record of the year. It had been decided that the shield be competed for by challenge, but as Auckland was on tour in 1903 and the conditions of competition were for games to be played on the ground of the holder, no challenge was played until 1904. The first challenger was Wellington. It won and defended the shield successfully four times before Auckland regained the trophy and built up a record of wins until 1913, when Taranaki won at Auckland. Taranaki held the shield until Wellington won at Stratford seven games later. The war then intervened and it was not until 1919 that challenges were resumed, Wellington finally losing to Southland at Invercargill in 1920 while on tour. When Southland toured the following year, Wellington regained the shield, and then in 1922 Hawke's Bay defeated Wellington and entered into a record run, finally losing to Wairarapa after turning 24 challengers aside. Hawke's Bay won a return match, but was deprived of the shield by a residential breach. Appeals against the decision found a combination of Manawatu and Horowhenua, titled Manawhenua, the new holder. Canterbury then took a hand, only to lose to Wairarapa in 1928. Wairarapa's turn of defeat came when Southland won at Carterton in 1929. From then until the Second World War Wellington, Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, Auckland, Canterbury (again), Otago, and Southland (again) in turn had possession. After the war Southland survived one season before losing to Otago, whose string of successes from 1947 until 1950 was stopped when Canterbury won at Dunedin. Wairarapa defeated Canterbury in the first challenge at Christchurch, only to have South Canterbury win at Masterton, and the Southerners failed to withstand North Auckland in the final challenge of the year. In 1951 Waikato won the shield for the first time, and thereafter changes found Auckland, Waikato (again), Wellington, Canterbury, Wellington (again), Otago, Taranaki, Southland, Auckland, North Auckland, and Auckland (again) in turn possessors of the shield.
From time to time the system of challenging has been criticised. The union holding the Ranfurly Shield can accept only a limited number of challenges each season, and these do not necessarily come from the strongest teams in the country.
Up to the close of the 1964 season, 279 matches have been played for the shield, summarised thus:
| 1904— | Wellington, 6; Auckland, 3. At Auckland |
| Wellington, 6; Canterbury, 3. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 15; Otago, 13. At Wellington | |
| 1905— | Wellington, 3; Wairarapa, 3. At Wellington |
| Wellington, 11; Hawke's Bay, 3. At Wellington | |
| Auckland, 10; Wellington, 6. At Wellington | |
| 1906— | Auckland, 29; Canterbury, 6. At Auckland |
| Auckland, 18; Taranaki, 5. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 48; Southland, 12. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 11; Wellington, 5. At Auckland | |
| 1907— | Auckland, 21; Buller, 0. At Auckland |
| Auckland, 12; Hawke's Bay, 3. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 6; Wanganui, 5. At Auckland | |
| 1908— | Auckland, 32; Marlborough, 0. At Auckland |
| Auckland, 24; Wellington, 3. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 9; Taranaki, 0. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 11; Otago, 5. At Auckland | |
| 1909— | Auckland, 18; Taranaki, 5. At Auckland |
| 1910— | Auckland, 11; Hawke's Bay, 3. At Auckland |
| Auckland, 3; Wellington, 3. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 16; Taranaki, 9. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 6; Canterbury, 4. At Auckland | |
| 1911— | Auckland, 21; South Auckland, 5. At Auckland |
| Auckland, 29; Poverty Bay, 10. At Auckland | |
| 1912— | Auckland, 6; Taranaki, 5. At Auckland |
| Auckland, 12; Wellington, 0. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 5; Otago, 5. At Auckland | |
| 1913— | Auckland, 6; Wellington, 5. At Auckland |
| Auckland, 27; Poverty Bay, 3. At Auckland | |
| Taranaki, 14; Auckland, 11. At Auckland | |
| 1914— | Taranaki, 17; Wanganui, 3. At Hawera |
| Taranaki, 11; Manawatu, 3. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 14; Horowhenua, 3. At Hawera | |
| Taranaki, 22; Wairarapa, 3. At Stratford | |
| Taranaki, 6; Canterbury, 5. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 6; Southland, 0. At New Plymouth | |
| Wellington, 12; Taranaki, 6. At Stratford | |
| 1919— | Wellington, 21; Canterbury, 8. At Wellington |
| Wellington, 18; Taranaki, 10. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 23; Canterbury, 9. At Christchurch | |
| Wellington, 24; Auckland, 3. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 30; Wanganui, 3. At Wellington | |
| 1920— | Wellington, 15; Canterbury, 3. At Wellington |
| Wellington, 22; Bay of Plenty, 3. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 20; Taranaki, 9. At Hawera | |
| Wellington, 20; Hawke's Bay, 5. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 23; Auckland, 20. At Auckland | |
| Wellington, 16; Taranaki, 5. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 20; Wanganui, 14. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 20; Auckland, 3. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 32; South Canterbury, 16. At Timaru | |
| Wellington, 16; Otago, 5. At Dunedin | |
| Southland, 17; Wellington, 6. At Invercargill | |
| 1921— | Southland, 10; Otago, 8. At Invercargill |
| Wellington, 28; Southland, 13. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 27; Auckland, 19. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 13; Otago, 8. At Wellington | |
| 1922— | Hawke's Bay, 19; Wellington, 9. At Wellington |
| Hawke's Bay, 17; Bay of Plenty, 16. At Hastings | |
| Hawke's Bay, 42; King Country, 8. At Napier | |
| 1923— | Hawke's Bay, 6; Wairarapa, 0. At Napier |
| Hawke's Bay, 10; Wellington, 6. At Napier | |
| Hawke's Bay, 15; Poverty Bay, 0. At Hastings | |
| Hawke's Bay, 9; Canterbury, 8. At Hastings | |
| Hawke's Bay, 38; Horowhenua, 11. At Napier | |
| Hawke's Bay, 20; Auckland, 5. At Napier | |
| 1924— | Hawke's Bay, 30; Wairarapa, 14. At Napier |
| Hawke's Bay, 46; Poverty Bay, 10. At Napier | |
| Hawke's Bay, 35; Nelson, 3. At Hastings | |
| Hawke's Bay, 23; Auckland, 6. At Napier | |
| Hawke's Bay, 31; Manawatu, 5. At Hastings | |
| 1925— | Hawke's Bay, 22; Wairarapa, 3. At Napier |
| Hawke's Bay, 24; Canterbury, 18. At Napier | |
| Hawke's Bay, 31; Southland, 12. At Napier | |
| Hawke's Bay, 28; Taranaki, 3. At Hastings | |
| Hawke's Bay, 20; Wellington, 11. At Wellington | |
| Hawke's Bay, 34; Otago, 14. At Hastings | |
| 1926— | Hawke's Bay, 77; Wairarapa, 14. At Napier |
| Hawke's Bay, 36; Wanganui, 3. At Hastings | |
| Hawke's Bay, 58; Wellington, 8. At Napier | |
| Hawke's Bay, 41; Auckland, 11. At Napier | |
| Hawke's Bay, 17; Canterbury, 15. At Christchurch | |
| 1927— | Wairarapa, 15; Hawke's Bay, 11. At Napier |
| Wairarapa, 53; Bush, 3. At Masterton | |
| Hawke's Bay,* 21; Wairarapa, 10. At Masterton | |
| Manawhenua, 18; Wairarapa, 16. At Carterton | |
| Manawhenua, 9; Taranaki, 3. At Palmerston North | |
| Manawhenua, 25; Wanganui, 6. At Palmerston North | |
| Canterbury, 17; Manawbenua, 6. At Palmerston North | |
| 1928— | Canterbury, 29; South Canterbury, 9. At Christchurch |
| Wairarapa, 8; Canterbury, 7. At Christchurch | |
| Wairarapa, 57; Bush, 11. At Masterton | |
| Wairarapa, 26; Marlborough, 8. At Carterton | |
| Wairarapa, 9; Wellington, 3. At Carterton | |
| Wairarapa, 31; Manawhenua, 10. At Carterton | |
| 1929— | Wairarapa, 10; Hawke's Bay, 6. At Masterton |
| Wairarapa, 17; Auckland, 14. At Carterton | |
| Wairarapa, 37; Manawhenua, 16. At Masterton | |
| Wairarapa, 17; Canterbury, 12. At Masterton | |
| Southland, 19; Wairarapa, 16. At Carterton | |
| 1930— | Southland, 19; Wanganui, 0. At Invercargill |
| Southland, 37; Otago, 5. At Invercargill | |
| Southland, 9; Hawke's Bay, 6. At Invercargill | |
| Wellington, 12; Southland, 3. At Invercargill | |
| 1931— | Wellington, 36; Southland, 13. At Wellington |
| Canterbury, 8; Wellington, 6. At Wellington | |
| Canterbury, 17; Otago, 6. At Christchurch | |
| 1932— | Canterbury, 11; South Canterbury, 5. At Christchurch |
| Canterbury, 14; Auckland, 0. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 5; West Coast, 3. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 9; Wellington, 8. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 13; Buller, 0. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 17; Waikato, 6. At Christchurch | |
| 1933— | Canterbury, 31; Ashburton County, 7. At Christchurch |
| Canterbury, 21; Southland, 3. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 8; Otago, 5. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 23; West Coast, 14. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 13; Buller, 3. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 15; Taranaki, 15. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 6; South Canterbury, 3. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 36; King Country, 0. At Christchurch | |
| 1934— | Hawke's Bay, 9; Canterbury, 0. At Christchurch |
| Hawke's Bay, 39; Wanganui, 16. At Napier | |
| Hawke's Bay, 23; Taranaki, 8. At Napier | |
| Auckland, 18; Hawke's Bay, 14. At Napier | |
| 1935— | Auckland, 29; North Auckland, 8. At Auckland |
| Canterbury, 16; Auckland, 13. At Auckland | |
| Canterbury, 27; Wairarapa, 16. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 8; Southland, 3. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 16; West Coast, 11. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 12; South Canterbury, 11. At Christchurch | |
| Otago, 15; Canterbury, 6. At Christchurch | |
| 1936— | Otago, 16; Southland, 3. At Dunedin |
| Otago, 14; Auckland, 5. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 11; Manawatu, 5. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 26; South Canterbury, 3. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 16; Canterbury, 0. At Dunedin | |
| 1936— | Otago, 30; North Auckland, 0. At Dunedin |
| Otago, 16; Wellington, 3. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 30; West Coast, 0. At Dunedin | |
| 1937— | Southland, 12; Otago, 7. At Dunedin |
| 1938— | Otago, 7; Southland, 6. At Invercargill |
| Otago, 16; Canterbury, 7. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 27; South Canterbury, 16. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 12; North Otago, 0. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 4; Hawke's Bay, 0. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 24; Taranaki, 3. At Dunedin | |
| Southland, 10; Otago, 5. At Dunedin | |
| Southland, 10; Wellington, 3. At Invercargill | |
| Southland, 20; Ashburton County, 16. At Invercargill | |
| 1939— | Southland, 23; Otago, 4. At Invercargill |
| Southland, 17; Manawatu, 3. At Invercargill | |
| Southland, 38; Bush, 0. At Invercargill | |
| Southland, 50; Ashburton County, 0. At Invercargill | |
| 1946— | Southland, 3; Otago, 0. At Invercargill |
| Southland, 11; Canterbury, 3. At Invercargill | |
| Southland, 35; South Canterbury, 9. At Invercargill | |
| Southland, 12; Wairarapa, 3. At Invercargill | |
| Southland, 15; North Otago, 3. At Invercargill | |
| 1947— | Otago, 17; Southland, 11. At Invercargill |
| Otago, 31; North Auckland, 12. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 18; Auckland, 12. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 8; Southland, 0. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 42; North Otago, 3. At Dunedin | |
| 1948— | Otago, 25; Southland, 0. At Dunedin |
| Otago, 31; Canterbury, 0. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 20; Wanganui, 3. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 12; Hawke's Bay, 6. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 40; Poverty Bay, 0. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 36; South Canterbury, 6. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 11; Wellington, 0. At Dunedin | |
| 1949— | Otago, 6; Buller, 6. At Dunedin |
| Otago, 22; Manawatu, 3. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 6; Southland, 3. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 27; Waikato, 5. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 6; Taranaki, 5. At Dunedin | |
| Otago, 16; Auckland, 5. At Dunedin | |
| 1950 | Otago, 22; Southland, 3. At Dunedin |
| Canterbury, 8; Otago, 0. At Dunedin | |
| Wairarapa, 3; Canterbury, 0. At Christchurch | |
| South Canterbury, 17; Wairarapa, 14. At Masterton | |
| North Auckland, 20; South Canterbury, 9. At Timaru | |
| 1951 | North Auckland, 16; Bay of Plenty, 12. At Whangarei |
| North Auckland, 19; Thames Valley, 6. At Whangarei | |
| Waikato, 6; North Auckland, 3. At Whangarei | |
| Waikato, 14; Auckland, 6. At Hamilton | |
| Waikato, 32; Bay of Plenty, 10. At Hamilton | |
| Waikato, 21; Taranaki, 12. At Hamilton | |
| Waikato, 14; Wanganui, 0. At Hamilton | |
| 1952 | Waikato, 17; Thames Valley, 3. At Hamilton |
| Waikato, 14; Wairarapa, 0. At Hamilton | |
| Auckland, 9; Waikato, 0. At Hamilton | |
| Waikato, 6; Auckland, 3. At Auckland | |
| Waikato, 18; King Country, 8. At Hamilton | |
| Waikato, 12; Manawatu, 3. At Hamilton | |
| Waikato, 20; West Coast, 6. At Hamilton | |
| 1953 | Waikato, 19; Bay of Plenty, 3. At Hamilton |
| Waikato, 24; North Auckland, 5. At Hamilton | |
| Waikato, 3; Taranaki, 3. At Hamilton | |
| Wellington, 9; Waikato, 6. At Hamilton | |
| Wellington, 22; Southland, 6. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 42; East Coast, 0. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 9; Otago, 3. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 26; Taranaki, 3. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 23; Auckland, 6. At Wellington | |
| Canterbury, 24; Wellington, 3. At Wellington | |
| Canterbury, 19; Buller, 3. At Christchurch | |
| 1954 | Canterbury, 18; Southland, 10. At Christchurch |
| Canterbury, 16; Wairarapa, 3. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 24; South Canterbury, 11. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 6; Waikato, 6. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 11; Taranaki, 6. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 8; West Coast, 0, At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 9; Otago, 9. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 17; Wanganui, 13. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 22; Buller, 0. At Christchurch | |
| 1955 | Canterbury, 12; Auckland, 6. At Christchurch |
| Canterbury, 19; South Canterbury, 6. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 30; Wellington, 11. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 39; North Auckland, 11. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 15; Otago, 8. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 20; West Coast, 11. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 24; Thames Valley, 11. At Christchurch | |
| 1956 | Canterbury, 14; Mid-Canterbury, 6. At Christchurch |
| Canterbury, 21; Hawke's Bay, 9. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 19; Wanganui, 6. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 38; West Coast, 17. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 32; South Canterbury, 17. At Christchurch | |
| Canterbury, 17; Southland, 3. At Christchurch | |
| Wellington, 8; Canterbury, 0. At Christchurch | |
| Wellington, 9; Auckland, 6. At Wellington | |
| 1957 | Wellington, 22; Bush, 9. At Wellington |
| Wellington, 15; Poverty Bay, 3. At Wellington | |
| Wellington, 34; Wanganui, 5. At Wellington | |
| Otago, 19; Wellington, 11. At Wellington | |
| Otago, 6; South Canterbury, 3. At Dunedin | |
| Taranaki, 11; Otago, 9. At Dunedin | |
| 1958 | Taranaki, 56; Golden Bay – Motueka, 8. At New Plymouth |
| Taranaki, 16; Mid-Canterbury, 0. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 15; King Country, 11. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 9; Manawatu, 8. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 22; Wanganui, 9. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 6; Wellington, 6. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 15; Waikato, 3. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 14; North Auckland, 3. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 11; Counties, 5. At New Plymouth | |
| 1959 | Taranaki, 31; Nelson, 14. At New Plymouth |
| Taranaki, 11; Wanganui, 11. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 22; Wellington, 6. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 23; Otago, 3. At New Plymouth | |
| Southland, 23; Taranaki, 6. At New Plymouth | |
| Auckland, 13; Southland, 9. At Invercargill | |
| 1960 | Auckland, 22; Thames Valley, 6. At Auckland |
| Auckland, 14; Counties, 3. At Auckland | |
| North Auckland, 17; Auckland, 11. At Auckland | |
| North Auckland, 24; Poverty Bay, 3. At Whangarei | |
| Auckland, 6; North Auckland, 3. At Whangarei | |
| Auckland, 31; Manawatu, 8. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 9; Bay of Plenty, 6. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 22; Wellington, 9. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 25; Taranaki, 6. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 19; Canterbury, 18. At Auckland | |
| 1961 | Auckland, 5; Hawke's Bay, 3. At Auckland. |
| Auckland, 17; King Country, 3. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 17; Counties, 12. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 14; Otago, 9. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 9; Southland, 6. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 13; Wellington, 8. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 10; Waikato, 0. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 26; North Auckland, 11. At Auckland | |
| 1962 | Auckland, 24; Thames Valley, 9. At Auckland |
| Auckland, 29; Bay of Plenty, 6. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 8; North Auckland, 3. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 52; West Coast, 6. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 15; Waikato, 11. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 27; Taranaki, 3. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 15; Canterbury, 6. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 46; Bush, 6. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 20; Wellington, 8. At Auckland | |
| 1963 | Auckland, 22; Wairarapa, 8. At Auckland |
| Auckland, 41; Wanganui, 18. At Auckland | |
| Auckland, 3; Hawke's Bay, 3. At Auckland | |
| Wellington, 8; Auckland, 3. At Auckland | |
| Taranaki, 17; Wellington, 3. At Wellington | |
| Taranaki, 14; Wanganui, 12. At Wellington | |
| 1964 | Taranaki, 6; Buller, 0. At New Plymouth |
| Taranaki, 15; Wanganui, 15. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 3; Wellington, 0. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 21; King Country, 0. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 12; Canterbury, 9. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 32; Wairarapa, 8. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 14; Waikato, 9. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 6; Manawatu, 3. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 12; North Auckland, 8. At New Plymouth | |
| 1965 | Taranaki, 33; Bush, 6. At New Plymouth |
| Taranaki, 23; Wanganui, 9. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 11; Wellington, 3. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 6; Southland, 6. At New Plymouth | |
| Taranaki, 21; Hawke's Bay, 17. At New Plymouth | |
| Auckland, 16; Taranaki, 11. At New Plymouth | |
| Auckland, 14; Waikato, 6. At Auckland |
*Match awarded to Wairarapa owing to a residential breach.
| Summary | ||||||
| Points | ||||||
| P. | W. | D. | L. | For | Agst. | |
| Auckland | 80 | 56 | 2 | 22 | 1,222 | 735 |
| Bay of Plenty | 7 | .. | .. | 7 | 56 | 144 |
| Buller | 7 | .. | 1 | 6 | 12 | 100 |
| Bush | 6 | .. | .. | 6 | 35 | 259 |
| Canterbury | 71 | 45 | 3 | 23 | 1,001 | 675 |
| Counties | 3 | .. | .. | 3 | 20 | 42 |
| East Coast | 1 | .. | .. | 1 | 0 | 42 |
| Golden Bay – Motueka | 1 | .. | .. | 1 | 8 | 56 |
| Hawke's Bay | 43 | 29 | 1 | 13 | 910 | 419 |
| Horowhenua | 2 | .. | .. | 2 | 14 | 52 |
| King Country | 6 | .. | .. | 6 | 30 | 149 |
| Manawatu | 9 | .. | .. | 9 | 41 | 150 |
| Manawhenua* | 6 | 3 | .. | 3 | 84 | 110 |
| Marlborough | 2 | .. | .. | 2 | 8 | 58 |
| Mid-Canterbury† | 5 | .. | .. | 5 | 29 | 131 |
| Nelson | 2 | .. | .. | 2 | 17 | 66 |
| North Auckland | 16 | 5 | .. | 11 | 163 | 269 |
| North Otago | 3 | .. | .. | 3 | 6 | 69 |
| Otago | 57 | 35 | 3 | 19 | 816 | 457 |
| Poverty Bay | 7 | .. | .. | 7 | 29 | 196 |
| South Auckland‡ | 1 | .. | .. | 1 | 5 | 21 |
| South Canterbury | 15 | 1 | .. | 14 | 141 | 329 |
| Southland | 41 | 20 | 1 | 20 | 515 | 479 |
| Taranaki | 60 | 34 | 5 | 21 | 745 | 605 |
| Thames Valley | 5 | .. | .. | 5 | 35 | 106 |
| Waikato | 24 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 272 | 201 |
| Wairarapa | 28 | 12 | 1 | 15 | .. | .. |
| Wanganui | 19 | .. | 1 | 18 | 151 | 428 |
| Wellington | 66 | 37 | 3 | 26 | 869 | 693 |
| West Coast | 9 | .. | .. | 9 | 68 | 212 |
| Totals | 587 | 291 | 21 | 290 | 7,645 | 7,471 |
*The present Manawatu and Horowhenua unions combined.
†Formerly Ashburton county – name changed to Mid-Canterbury union in 1952.
‡The area now controlled by Bay of Plenty, King Country, Thames Valley, and Waikato unions.
Note: One Hawke's Bay win was subsequently voided (on an appeal) owing to a residential qualification breach. The match concerned was against Wairarapa at Masterton in 1927. Pending the appeal decision, both Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay had played provisional challenges, and on the shield being ordered to be returned to Wairarapa the trophy was handed to Manawhenua instead, that union having won its provisional game against Wairarapa whilst the New Zealand Rugby Union's decision was awaited. Hawke's Bay is thus credited with the win, and the provisional match between Wairarapa and Manawhenua added as a shield fixture.
by Arthur Cameron Swan, New Zealand Rugby Football Union official historian, Lower Hutt.
