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Graphic: An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand 1966.

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This information was published in 1966 in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock. It has not been corrected and will not be updated.

Up-to-date information can be found elsewhere in Te Ara.

RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL

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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.