View source for Ranfurly Shield

{{Short description|New Zealand Rugby union football trophy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox
| bodyclass = vevent
| abovestyle = background-color:#EEDD82
| aboveclass = summary
| above = Ranfurly Shield
| headerstyle = background-color:#EEDD82
| labelstyle = width:33%;
| image = [[File:Ranfurlyshield.jpg|150px|alt=The Ranfurly Shield]]
| caption = 
| header1 = 
| label1 = Sport
| data1 = [[Rugby union]]
| header2 = 
| label2 = Presented by
| data2 = [[New Zealand Rugby Union]]
| header3 = 
| label3 = Type
| data3 = {{nowrap|Provincial challenge trophy}}
| header4 = 
| label4 = {{nowrap|First contested}}
| data4 = 1904
| header5 = 
| label5 = Current holder
| data5 = {{rut|Taranaki}}
| header6 = 
| label6 = {{nowrap|Official website}}
| data6 = [https://www.provincial.rugby/ranfurly-shield/ provincial.rugby/ranfurly-shield]
| header7 = 
| label7 = {{nowrap|Current season}}
| data7 = ''[[Ranfurly Shield 2020–29#{{CURRENTYEAR}}|{{CURRENTYEAR}}]]''
}}
The '''Ranfurly Shield''', colloquially known as the '''Log o' Wood''', is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic [[rugby union]] competition. First played for in 1904, the Shield is based on a challenge system. The holding union must defend the shield in challenge matches, which are usually played at the shield holder's home venue, and if the challenger is successful in their challenge they will become the new holder of the Shield. There is a tradition for the first challenges of a new rugby season to be played against smaller associations from the [[Heartland Championship]].

Although the professional era of rugby has seen other competitions, such as the [[National Provincial Championship (2006–present)|NPC]] and [[Super Rugby]], detracting from the pre-eminence of the Ranfurly Shield, many regard it as the greatest prize in New Zealand domestic rugby.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ranfurly Shield |url=https://www.britannica.com/sports/Ranfurly-Shield |access-date=1 October 2023 |website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |language=en }}</ref> This is mainly due to its long history, the fact that every challenge is a sudden-death defence of the Shield, and that any team has a chance to win.

{{rut|Taranaki}} won the Shield from {{rut|Tasman}} on 6 October 2024.<ref name="Taranaki wrestle Ranfurly Shield off Tasman">{{cite web | url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350436313/npc-taranaki-wrestle-ranfurly-shield-tasman | title=NPC: Taranaki wrestle Ranfurly Shield off Tasman | website=stuff.co.nz | date =6 October 2024 | access-date=6 October 2024}}</ref>

==History==
In 1901 the [[Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor of New Zealand]], [[Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly|The 5th Earl of Ranfurly]], announced that he would present a cup to the [[New Zealand Rugby Union|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.<ref>{{Cite book|title =The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby|last = Chester|first = Rod|publisher = Moa Publications|year = 1987|isbn = 0-908570-16-3|location = Auckland, New Zealand|pages = 266|last2 = McMillan|first2 = Neville|last3 = Palenski|first3 = Ron}}</ref> 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.<ref>According to Dunedin engraver Brian Swan, who noted the "very low" crossbar in the centrepiece scene, quoted in "Shield victory recalls origins of famous rugby trophy" by anonymous columnist '[[Prester John]]' in ''[[Otago Daily Times]]'', 31 August 2013, p.35 (not published online).</ref>

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.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

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.<ref name="2023 NZR Competitions Regulations Handbook">{{Cite web | url=https://www.nzrugby.co.nz/assets/2023-Competitions-Regulations-Handbook.pdf | title=2023 NZR Competitions Regulations Handbook | work=New Zealand Rugby Union | year=2023 | access-date=10 June 2023}}</ref>
[[File:Ranfurly Shield Visit to Shannon 1927.jpg|thumb|250px|Ranfurly Shield Visit to Shannon 1927]]
Auckland holds the record for the greatest number of consecutive Shield defences, 61 matches between 14 September 1985 and 18 September 1993. During this period Auckland took the Shield on tour to provincial unions that, mainly for financial reasons, would be unlikely to be able to mount a challenge for the trophy. While dismissed by some critics, usually because of the one-sided scores, it was mostly regarded as a success by those involved.<ref>{{cite book |last=Howitt |first=Bob |title=Radio New Zealand Sport Rugby Annual 1992 |year=1992 |publisher=Moa Beckett |location=Auckland |isbn=1 86947 114 8 |page=77 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLean |first=Glenn |date=29 September 2011 |title=Ranfurly Shield runs out of room |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/5708168/Ranfurly-Shield-runs-out-of-room |access-date=10 May 2022 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cully |first=Paul |title=A new Log 'o Wood: Ranfurly Shield undergoes major restoration as old version is retired |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/132760483/a-new-log-o-wood-ranfurly-shield-undergoes-major-restoration-as-old-version-is-retired |date=18 August 2023 |access-date=1 September 2023 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en }}</ref>

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 Rugby Union|Hawke's Bay]] had won it from [[Wellington Rugby Football Union|Wellington]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reive |first=Christopher |title=Hawke's Bay Rugby Union says 'genuine accident' cause of broken Ranfurly Shield |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ranfurly-shield-hawkes-bay-rugby-union-says-genuine-accident-cause-of-broken-ranfurly-shield/KKQFPPVLSBGCTFN6DLO2SITQ2A/ |date=1 October 2023 |access-date=1 October 2023 |website=[[Hawke's Bay Today]] |language=en }}</ref>

==Challenges==
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 [[National Provincial Championship (2006–present)|NPC]] or [[Heartland Championship]] are automatic challenges. The remaining shield defences must be made up of challenges from unions in the other domestic competition.<ref name="2023 NZR Competitions Regulations Handbook"/> For example, since North Harbour, an [[National Provincial Championship (2006–present)|Air New Zealand Cup]] (now NPC) team, held the Shield at the end of the 2006 Cup season despite [[2006 Air New Zealand Cup#Quarter-finals|losing their home quarter-final to Otago]], they were forced to defend the Shield against Heartland Championship teams during the 2007 pre-season. Having successfully done so, all their home fixtures in the round-robin phase were Shield defences until they lost the shield to Waikato.

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. In 2008, Auckland played both their mandatory defences against Heartland teams on the road.<ref name="Auckland on the road">{{cite news|url=http://allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=showRanfurlyNews&newsArticle=7328 |title=Auckland accepts two Ranfurly Shield challenges |website=allblacks.com |date=6 December 2007 |access-date=15 January 2008}}</ref>

If a challenger successfully takes the Shield, all of their home matches for the rest of the season are defences of it.

===Proposed rule changes===
In August 2008, the New Zealand Rugby Union released a competitions review that proposed dramatic changes to the Shield rules:<ref name="2008 report">{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/9113139/Hawkes-Bay-claim-Ranfurly-Shield-glory |title=Hawke's Bay claim Ranfurly Shield glory |publisher=Fairfax NZ News |website=stuff.co.nz |date=1 September 2013 |access-date=1 September 2013}}</ref>

* Once a team has successfully defended the Shield four times, all of the holder's subsequent matches in league play would be mandatory defences, whether home or away. The Shield will not be at stake in semifinals or finals.
* If an Air New Zealand Cup team holds the Shield at the end of the league season, that season's winners of the Meads Cup and Lochore Cup, the two trophies contested in the second-level Heartland Championship, will receive automatic challenges in the following year.

The changes were not implemented but did receive support from Auckland, which held the Shield when the NZRU released its report.<ref name="2008 report"/>

==Current teams==
Just under half of the unions that can contest for the Ranfurly Shield do not have an alias. [[South Canterbury Rugby Football Union|South Canterbury]]'s emblem is their own [[Coat of Arms]]. But a soldier represents their green and black colour and current mascot, Tim and Ru. The mascots were originally used during [[war]]time and were created by Ronald Murray.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mascots back in green and black |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/sport/2900604/Mascots-back-in-green-and-blackp |website=stuff.co.nz |date=24 February 2013}}</ref> Many of the unions below have this situation, like [[Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union|Poverty Bay]]'s [[Weka]], it resembles their mascot after the 2011 squads post-match photo after the Lochore Cup final.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lochore Cup Final - South Canterbury v Poverty Bay |url=http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Poverty+Bay/Lochore+Cup+Final+South+Canterbury+v+Poverty/aPQdw3QYSfk|website=Zimbo|date=8 October 2011}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"
|-
!class="unsortable"| Team || Estab{{shy}}lished ||class="unsortable"| Alias ||class="unsortable"| Area ||class="unsortable"| Stadia || First held
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Auckland Rugby Union|Auckland]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|A.R.U|Auckland Rugby Union}}</small> || 1883 ||style="text-align:left"| {{HMS|Endeavour}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Auckland]], [[Auckland Region|Auckland]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Eden Park]] || 1905
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Buller Rugby Football Union|Buller]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|B.R.U|Buller Rugby Union}}</small> || 1894 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Lion]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Westport, New Zealand|Westport]], [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coast]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Victoria Square, Westport|Victoria Square]] || —
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Bay of Plenty Rugby Union|Bay of Plenty]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|B.O.P.R.U|Bay of Plenty Rugby Union}}</small> || 1911 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Pohutu Geyser]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Mount Maunganui]], [[Bay of Plenty Region|Bay of Plenty]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Rotorua International Stadium]] || 2004
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Canterbury Rugby Football Union|Canterbury]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|C.R.F.U|Canterbury Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1879 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Sheep|Lamb]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Christchurch]], [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Rugby League Park]] || 1927
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union|Counties Manukau]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|C.M.R.F.U|Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1955 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Glenbrook Steel Mill]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Pukekohe]], [[Auckland Region|Auckland]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Growers Stadium]] || 2013
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[East Coast Rugby Football Union|East Coast]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|E.C.R.F.U|East Coast Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1922 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Pohutukawa]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Ruatoria]], [[Gisborne Region|Gisborne]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Whakarua Park]] || —
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Hawke's Bay Rugby Union|Hawke's Bay]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|H.B.R.U|Hawke's Bay Rugby Union}}</small> || 1884 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Magpie]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Napier, New Zealand|Napier]], [[Hawke's Bay Region|Hawke's Bay]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[McLean Park]] || 1922
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Horowhenua-Kapiti Rugby Football Union|Horowhenua Kapiti]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|H.K.R.F.U|Horowhenua Kapiti Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1893 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Rugby ball|Rugby football]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Levin, New Zealand|Levin]], [[Manawatū-Whanganui]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Levin Domain]] || 1927<br />(<small>as Manawhenua</small>)
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[King Country Rugby Football Union|King Country]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|K.C.R.F.U|King Country Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1922 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Sheep|Ram]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Te Kūiti]], [[King Country]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Owen Delany Park]] || —
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Manawatu Rugby Union|Manawatu]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|M.R.U|Manawatu Rugby Union}}</small> || 1886 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Wind turbine]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Palmerston North]], [[Manawatū-Whanganui]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Central Energy Trust Arena]] || 1927<br />(<small>as Manawhenua</small>)
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union|Mid Canterbury]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|M.C.R.U|Mid Canterbury Rugby Union}}</small> || 1904 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Hammer]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Ashburton, New Zealand|Ashburton]], [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Ashburton Showgrounds]] || —
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Northland Rugby Union|Northland]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|N.R.U|Northland Rugby Union}}</small> || 1920 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Taniwha]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Whangārei]], [[Northland Region|Northland]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Okara Park]] || 1950<br />(<small>as North Auckland</small>)
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[North Harbour Rugby Union|North Harbour]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|N.H.R.U|North Harbour Rugby Union}}</small> || 1985 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Hibiscus]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Albany, New Zealand|Albany]], [[Auckland Region|Auckland]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[North Harbour Stadium]] || 2006
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[North Otago Rugby Football Union|North Otago]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|N.O.R.F.U|North Otago Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1904 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Gold (color)|Gold]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Oamaru]], [[Otago]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Centennial Park, Oamaru|Centennial Park]] || —
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Otago Rugby Football Union|Otago]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|O.R.F.U|Otago Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1881 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Feral pig|Razorback]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Dunedin]], [[Otago]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Forsyth Barr Stadium]] || 1935
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union|Poverty Bay]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|P.B.R.F.U|Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1890 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Weka]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]], [[Gisborne Region|Gisborne]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Rugby Park, Gisborne|Rugby Park]] || —
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Southland Rugby|Southland]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|R.S|Rugby Southland}}</small> || 1887 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Stag]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Invercargill, New Zealand|Invercargill]], [[Southland, New Zealand|Southland]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Rugby Park Stadium]] || 1920
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[South Canterbury Rugby Football Union|South Canterbury]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|S.C.R.F.U|South Canterbury Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1888 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Soldier]]* ||style="text-align:left"| [[Timaru]], [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Fraser Park (Timaru)|Fraser Park]] || 1950
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Taranaki Rugby Football Union|Taranaki]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|T.R.F.U|Taranaki Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1889 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Bull]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[New Plymouth, New Zealand|New Plymouth]], [[Taranaki]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Yarrow Stadium]] || 1913
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Tasman Rugby Union|Tasman]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|T.R.U|Tasman Rugby Union}}</small> || 2006 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Shortfin mako shark]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]], [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Trafalgar Park, Nelson|Trafalgar Park]] || 1973<br />(<small>as Marlborough</small>)
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Thames Valley Rugby Football Union|Thames Valley]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|T.V.R.F.U|Thames Valley Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1922 ||style="text-align:left"| Swamp Fox ||style="text-align:left"| [[Paeroa]], [[Waikato]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Paeroa Domain]] || —
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Waikato Rugby Union|Waikato]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|W.R.U|Waikato Rugby Union}}</small> || 1921 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Cattle|Mooloo]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]], [[Waikato]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Waikato Stadium]] || 1951
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union|Wairarapa Bush]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|W.B.R.F.U|Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1971 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Castlepoint|Castle Rock]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Masterton]], [[Wellington Region|Wellington]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Memorial Park, Masterton|Memorial Park]] || 1927<br />(<small>as Wairarapa</small>)
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Whanganui Rugby Football Union|Whanganui]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|W.R.F.U|Whanganui Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1888 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Butcher]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Whanganui]], [[Manawatū-Whanganui]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Cooks Gardens]] || —
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Wellington Rugby Football Union|Wellington]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|W.R.F.U|Wellington Rugby Football Union}}</small> || 1879 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Lion]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Wellington]], [[Wellington Region|Wellington]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Wellington Regional Stadium|Sky Stadium]] || 1904
|-
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[West Coast Rugby Union|West Coast]]'''<br /><small>{{Tooltip|W.C.R.U|West Coast Rugby Union}}</small> || 1890 ||style="text-align:left"| [[Swan]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Greymouth, New Zealand|Greymouth]], [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coast]] ||style="text-align:left"| [[Rugby Park, Greymouth|Rugby Park]] || —
|}

==Results==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"
|-
! Match || Date || Holder || Score || Challenger || Venue || Defences
|-
| [[Ranfurly Shield 1904–09#1904|1]] ||style="text-align:left"| 6 August 1904 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Auckland}} || 3–6 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wellington}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Alexandra Park, Auckland|Alexandra Park]] || 0
|-
| [[Ranfurly Shield 1904–09#1909|6]] ||style="text-align:left"| 26 August 1905 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wellington}} || 6–10 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Auckland}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Athletic Park, Wellington|Athletic Park]] || 4
|-
| 30 ||style="text-align:left"| 16 August 1913 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Auckland}} || 11–14 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Taranaki}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Alexandra Park, Auckland|Alexandra Park]] || 23
|-
| 37 ||style="text-align:left"| 10 September 1914 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Taranaki}} || 6–12 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wellington}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Victoria Park, Stratford|Victoria Park]] || 6
|-
| 53 ||style="text-align:left"| 15 September 1920 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wellington}} || 6–17 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Southland}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Rugby Park Stadium|Rugby Park]] || 15
|-
| 55 ||style="text-align:left"| 10 September 1921 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Southland}} || 13–28 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wellington}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Athletic Park, Wellington|Athletic Park]] || 1
|-
| 58 ||style="text-align:left"| 9 August 1922 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wellington}} || 9–19 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Hawke's Bay}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Athletic Park, Wellington|Athletic Park]] || 2
|-
| 83 ||style="text-align:left"| 3 June 1927 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Hawke's Bay}} || 11–15 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wairarapa}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[McLean Park]] || 24
|-
| 86 ||style="text-align:left"| 6 August 1927 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wairarapa}} || 16–18 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Manawhenua}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Showgrounds Oval, Carterton|Showgrounds Oval]] || 2*
|-
| 89 ||style="text-align:left"| 7 September 1927 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Manawhenua}} || 6–17 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Canterbury}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Central Energy Trust Arena|Showgrounds Oval]] || 2
|-
| 91 ||style="text-align:left"| 18 July 1928 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Canterbury}} || 7–8 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wairarapa}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Lancaster Park|Lancaster Park Oval]] || 1
|-
| 100 ||style="text-align:left"| 31 August 1929 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wairarapa}} || 16–19 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Southland}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Showgrounds Oval, Carterton|Showgrounds Oval]] || 8
|-
| 104 ||style="text-align:left"| 3 September 1930 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Southland}} || 3–12 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wellington}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Rugby Park Stadium|Rugby Park]] || 3
|-
| 106 ||style="text-align:left"| 22 August 1931 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wellington}} || 6–8 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Canterbury}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Athletic Park, Wellington|Athletic Park]] || 1
|-
| 122 ||style="text-align:left"| 21 July 1934 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Canterbury}} || 0–9 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Hawke's Bay}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Lancaster Park|Lancaster Park Oval]] || 15
|-
| 125 ||style="text-align:left"| 8 September 1934 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Hawke's Bay}} || 14–18 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Auckland}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[McLean Park]] || 2
|-
| 127 ||style="text-align:left"| 10 August 1935 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Auckland}} || 13–16 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Canterbury}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Eden Park]] || 1
|-
| 132 ||style="text-align:left"| 21 September 1935 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Canterbury}} || 6–15 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Otago}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Lancaster Park|Lancaster Park Oval]] || 4
|-
| 141 ||style="text-align:left"| 31 July 1937 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Otago}} || 7–12 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Southland}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Carisbrook|Carisbrook Ground]] || 8
|-
| 142 ||style="text-align:left"| 30 July 1938 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Southland}} || 6–7 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Otago}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Rugby Park Stadium|Rugby Park]] || 0
|-
| 148 ||style="text-align:left"| 10 September 1938 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Otago}} || 5–10 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Southland}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Carisbrook|Carisbrook Ground]] || 5
|-
| 160 ||style="text-align:left"| 2 August 1947 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Southland}} || 11–17 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Otago}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Rugby Park Stadium|Rugby Park]] || 11
|-
| 179 ||style="text-align:left"| 16 August 1950 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Otago}} || 0–8 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Canterbury}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Carisbrook|Carisbrook Ground]] || 18
|-
| 180 ||style="text-align:left"| 2 September 1950 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Canterbury}} || 0–3 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wairarapa}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Lancaster Park|Lancaster Park Oval]] || 0
|-
| 181 ||style="text-align:left"| 16 September 1950 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wairarapa}} || 14–17 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|South Canterbury}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Solway Showgrounds|Solway Showgrounds Oval]] || 0
|-
| 182 ||style="text-align:left"| 30 September 1950 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|South Canterbury}} || 9–20 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|North Auckland}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Fraser Park (Timaru)|Fraser Park]] || 0
|-
| 185 ||style="text-align:left"| 18 August 1951 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|North Auckland}} || 3–6 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Waikato}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Okara Park|Rugby Park]] || 2
|-
| 192 ||style="text-align:left"| 9 August 1952 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Waikato}} || 0–9 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Auckland}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Waikato Stadium|Rugby Park]] || 6
|-
| 193 ||style="text-align:left"| 23 August 1952 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Auckland}} || 3–6 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Waikato}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Eden Park]] || 0
|-
| 200 ||style="text-align:left"| 1 August 1953 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Waikato}} || 6–9 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wellington}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Waikato Stadium|Rugby Park]] || 6
|-
| 206 ||style="text-align:left"| 19 September 1953 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wellington}} || 3–24 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Canterbury}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Athletic Park, Wellington|Athletic Park]] || 5
|-
| 230 ||style="text-align:left"| 22 September 1956 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Canterbury}} || 0–8 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wellington}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Lancaster Park|Lancaster Park Oval]] || 23
|-
| 235 ||style="text-align:left"| 24 August 1957 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Wellington}} || 11–19 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Otago}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Athletic Park, Wellington|Athletic Park]] || 4
|-
| 237 ||style="text-align:left"| 28 September 1957 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Otago}} || 9–11 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Taranaki}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Carisbrook]] || 1
|-
| 251 ||style="text-align:left"| 5 September 1959 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Taranaki}} || 6–23 ||style="text-align:left"| {{Rut|Southland}} ||style="text-align:left"| [[Yarrow Stadium|Rugby Park]] || 13
|}
* <small>[[Wairarapa Rugby Football Union|Wairarapa]]'s 1927-era saw them lose to Hawke's Bay 21–10 at Solway Showgrounds Oval, but was subsequently awarded the shield back on a residential breach.</small>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;width:71%"
|-
!colspan=50%| Ranfurly Shield holders
|-
! Union
! Won
! Successful defences
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Southland}}||5 September 1959||0
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||23 September 1959||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|North Auckland}}||20 August 1960||1
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||31 August 1960||25
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Wellington}}||31 August 1963||0
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Taranaki}}||7 September 1963||15
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||11 September 1965||3
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Waikato}}||27 August 1966||0
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Hawke's Bay}}||24 September 1966||21
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Canterbury}}||27 September 1969||9
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||28 August 1971||1
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|North Auckland}}||18 September 1971||6
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||26 August 1972||0
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Canterbury}}||5 September 1972||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Marlborough}}||28 July 1973||6
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|South Canterbury}}||17 August 1974||1
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Wellington}}||3 September 1974||1
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||21 September 1974||10
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Manawatu}}||21 August 1976||13
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|North Auckland}}||12 September 1978||5
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||21 September 1979||6
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Waikato}}||7 September 1980||8
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Wellington}}||1 August 1981||4
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Canterbury}}||18 September 1982||25
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||14 September 1985||61
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Waikato}}||18 September 1993||5
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Canterbury}}||3 September 1994||9
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||23 September 1995||3
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Taranaki}}||24 August 1996||1
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Waikato}}||8 September 1996||1
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||4 October 1996||6
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Waikato}}||5 October 1997||21
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Canterbury}}||23 September 2000||23
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||11 October 2003||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Bay of Plenty}}||15 August 2004||1
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Canterbury}}||5 September 2004||14
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|North Harbour}}||24 September 2006||3
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Waikato}}||24 August 2007||0
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Canterbury}}||1 September 2007||1
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||29 September 2007||5
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Wellington}}||20 September 2008||4
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Canterbury}}||29 August 2009||4
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Southland}}||22 October 2009||6
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Canterbury}}||9 October 2010||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Southland}}||23 July 2011||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Taranaki}}||24 August 2011||7
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Waikato}}||3 October 2012||4
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Otago}}||23 August 2013||0
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Hawke's Bay}}||1 September 2013||0
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Counties Manukau}}||7 September 2013||6
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Hawke's Bay}}||30 August 2014||11
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Waikato}}||9 October 2015|||6
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Canterbury}}|||28 September 2016|||6
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Taranaki}}|||6 October 2017|||5
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Waikato}}||9 September 2018||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Otago}}||13 October 2018||6
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Canterbury}}|||28 September 2019|||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Taranaki}}|||19 September 2020|||0
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Otago}}|||27 September 2020|||0
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Hawke's Bay}}|||4 October 2020|||14
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Wellington}}|||17 September 2022||7
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Hawke's Bay}}||30 September 2023||4
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Tasman}}||7 September 2024||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|'''{{Rut|Taranaki}}'''||'''6 October 2024'''||'''1'''
|}

===Overall records===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;width:60%"
|-
!Team
!Wins
!Successful defences
!Average defences
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Auckland}}||'''16'''||'''148'''||9.25
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Canterbury}}||16||139||8.69
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Waikato}}||13||60||4.62
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Wellington}}||11||46||4.18
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Taranaki}}||8||49||6.13
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Hawke's Bay}}||7||76||10.86
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Otago}}||7||38||5.43
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Southland}}||7||25||3.57
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Northland}}||4||14||3.50
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Wairarapa}}||3||10||3.33
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|South Canterbury}}||2||1||0.5
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Manawatu}}||1||13||'''13'''
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Counties Manukau}}||1||6||6
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Marlborough}}||1||6||6
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|North Harbour}}||1||3||3
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Manawhenua}}||1||2||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Tasman}}||1||2||2
|-
|style="text-align:left"|{{Rut|Bay of Plenty}}||1||1||1
|}

''Last updated: after Taranaki successfully defended the Shield on 11 June 2025.''

==See also==
* [[Ranfurly Shield 1904–1909]]
* [[Ranfurly Shield 1910–1919]]
* [[Ranfurly Shield 1920–1929]]
* [[Ranfurly Shield 1930–1939]]
* [[Ranfurly Shield 1960–1969]]
* [[Ranfurly Shield 1970–1979]]
* [[Ranfurly Shield 1980–1989]]
* [[Ranfurly Shield 1990–1999]]
* [[Ranfurly Shield 2000–2009]]
** [[Ranfurly Shield in 2009]]
* [[Ranfurly Shield 2010–2019]]
* [[Ranfurly Shield 2020–2029]]
* [[Hanan Shield]] 
* [[Rundle Cup]]

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.primerugby.com/news/article.asp?id=7217 Rampant Aucks take the 2007 shield ]
* [https://archive.today/20030307005044/http://www.nzrugby.com/history/ranfurly.asp Ranfurly Shield at nzrugby.com] (history, stories, audio highlights, trivia)

{{Ranfurly Shield}}
{{Rugby union in New Zealand}}
{{Southern Hemisphere provincial rugby competitions}}

[[Category:Ranfurly Shield| ]]
[[Category:Rugby union trophies and awards]]
[[Category:Rugby union competitions in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Rugby union competitions for provincial teams]]