The
Ranfurly Shield
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 ...
, colloquially known as the ''Log o' Wood'', is perhaps the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand's domestic
rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies. The holding union defends the Shield in challenge matches - which are their home games - and if a challenger defeats them, they become the new holder of the Shield.
The Shield is currently held by , who won it from in a 42–29 victory on 6 October 2024. Tasman had held the Shield since 7 September 2024 when the Mako took the Shield off Hawke's Bay and successfully defended it twice.
It was Tasman's first Ranfurly Shield tenure. won the Shield once (in 1973) and defended it successfully six times, but the
Tasman Rugby Union
The Tasman Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere, a bay at the north end of the South Island in New Zealand. Headquartered in Nelson, TRU is New Zealand's newest provincial union, founded in 2006 with ...
, which is the result of the merger of Marlborough and , had never held the Shield before.
Holders
''Last updated: after Taranaki successfully defended the Shield on 11 June 2025.''
Fixtures
2020
Source:
2021
Source:
2022
Source:
2023
Source:
2024
Source:
2025
Top points and try scorers
Points scorers
The following are the top points scorers for all Ranfurly Shield matches between 2020 and 2029:
Try scorers
The following are the top try scorers for all Ranfurly Shield matches between 2020 and 2029:
See also
*
Rugby union in New Zealand
Rugby union (usually referred to as simply “rugby”) has been played in New Zealand since 1870 and is the most popular sport in the country as well as being the de facto national sport. In a 2023 survey, 75% of respondents said they follow ...
*
Hanan Shield
*
National Provincial Championship The National Provincial Championship may refer to:
* National Provincial Championship (1976–2005), original competition before reform into 14 sides
* National Provincial Championship (2006–present)
The National Provincial Championship (NP ...
References
External links
Ranfurly Shield history on the Provincial Rugby website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranfurly Shield 2020-2029
2020-2029
2020 in New Zealand rugby union
2021 in New Zealand rugby union
2022 in New Zealand rugby union
2023 in New Zealand rugby union
2024 in New Zealand rugby union