Rugby: Taranaki prevail in Shield classic
Rugby: Taranaki prevail in Shield classic
The Ranfurly Shield has seen some wonderfully rugged and dour encounters in its 109-year history. This 49-40 win to Taranaki was not one of them.
Ranfurly Shield
Rugby: Taranaki locks away shield for summer
Rugby: Taranaki locks away shield for summer
Taranaki can safely place the Ranfurly Shield under lock and key over the summer after surviving their first challenge by national provincial championship rivals Hawke's Bay today.
Rugby: Taranaki lift Ranfurly Shield from Southland
Rugby: Taranaki lift Ranfurly Shield from Southland
Taranaki regained the Ranfurly Shield with a gritty 15-12 victory over Southland in their national provincial championship rugby match in Invercargill last night.
Rugby: Cowan pockets Ranfurly Shield riches
Rugby: Cowan pockets Ranfurly Shield riches
All Black halfback Jimmy Cowan took great delight in pocketing $100 from his skipper Richie McCaw after Southland wrested rugby's Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury for the second time in two years yesterday.
Rugby: Southland lift Ranfurly Shield
Rugby: Southland lift Ranfurly Shield
Lightning does indeed strike twice. Just ask national provincial rugby champions Canterbury.
Rugby: Coach pleased players competed well
Rugby: Coach pleased players competed well
Barry Matthews had no complaints and just one wish after North Otago's Ranfurly Shield loss on Saturday.
Rugby: Darling leads way for gutsy N. Otago
Rugby: Darling leads way for gutsy N. Otago
Ralph Darling did everything he could to write himself into Ranfurly Shield immortality on Saturday.
Rugby: North Otago trounced in Shield challenge
Rugby: North Otago trounced in Shield challenge
All Black hopeful Colin Slade safely negotiated a solid 40 minutes of game-time as Canterbury beat North Otago 52-8 in a pre-season rugby match that doubled as a Ranfurly Shield challenge in Christchurch today.
Rugby: North Otago having 11th attempt at winning Ranfurly Shield
Rugby: North Otago having 11th attempt at winning Ranfurly Shield
North Otago will play its 11th Ranfurly Shield challenge when it lines up against a depleted Canterbury side at Rugby Park in Christchurch this afternoon.
Rugby: Southland's shield reign ended
Rugby: Southland's shield reign ended
Tim Shadbolt retained the mayoralty but another reign ended in Invercargill tonight as Canterbury avenged their concession of the Ranfurly Shield to Southland a year ago with a ruthlessly efficient 26-16 victory at Rugby Park.
Rugby: All Blacks back for Canty shield defence
Rugby: All Blacks back for Canty shield defence
Canterbury has been bolstered by the return of All Blacks Owen Franks and Brad Thorn for their first Ranfurly Shield defence against Counties-Manukau in Christchurch on Saturday.
Rugby: Canterbury tinker for shield challenge
Rugby: Canterbury tinker for shield challenge
Canterbury welcome back hooker Corey Flynn and prop Peter Borlase for the national provincial championship rugby match and Ranfurly Shield challenge against Southland in Invercargill on Saturday night.
Rugby: Southland keeps Shield in nailbiter
Rugby: Southland keeps Shield in nailbiter
Southland have given the people of the embattled province some much-needed cheer with a rousing Ranfurly Shield defence against Auckland in Invercargill.
Rugby: Teams' focus not on Ranfurly Shield
Rugby: Teams' focus not on Ranfurly Shield
Rugby's prized Ranfurly Shield might be up for grabs but both holder Southland and challenger Auckland have avoided making it a major element of their build-up to their clash in Invercargill tomorrow night.
Rugby: Final challenge for OBHS
Rugby: Final challenge for OBHS
It may not reach the intensity of the Ranfurly Shield defence but there will be another epic provincial clash next Saturday when Otago Boys' meets Southland Boys' in the final of the Highlanders First XV competition.
Rugby: Double the pain for Joubert
Rugby: Double the pain for Joubert
Eben Joubert did not know what was worse - dislocating his shoulder or standing on the sideline watching the shield dream fade away.
Rugby: No time to mope, Otago moves on
Rugby: No time to mope, Otago moves on
Otago cannot afford to dwell too long on its unsuccessful Ranfurly Shield challenge, coach Phil Mooney says, although he concedes discipline must improve.
Rugby: Right result the focus for Otago, Soakai says
Rugby: Right result the focus for Otago, Soakai says
Otago captain Alando Soakai will bring up 50 games for his province this weekend in the most important of games but says he will not be stressing the importance of the Log o' Wood before kick-off.
Rugby: Changes made to inject energy into pack
Rugby: Changes made to inject energy into pack
Otago coach Phil Mooney has looked to inject some energy into his forward pack to play Southland in the Ranfurly Shield challenge in Invercargill tomorrow.
Rugby: Date with destiny... no pressure
Rugby: Date with destiny... no pressure
So this is it. The big one. The chance of all chances. The opportunity to get rid of 53 years of hurt.