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Story: Southland region

Rugby match

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Rugby match

Particularly in the late 1930s and 1940s, contests between the Southland and Otago rugby teams took on an epic flavour – sometimes because of the conditions. Defeating Otago 23 to 4 in the first Ranfurly Shield challenge of the 1939 season, Southland did equally well against Manawatū (17–3) when they played in snow on 12 August, three weeks before the outbreak of the Second World War.

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Southland Museum and Art Gallery

Reference: 2006.113

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How to cite this page

David Grant, Southland region – Sport and recreation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/20142/rugby-match (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by David Grant, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 May 2015.