New silverware for rugby's Battle of the Bays

Ian Macrae, (left) and Frank Shelford played for Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay during their career. Photo/File

The right to be called the "real Bay" won't be the only thing on the line in Friday's clash between Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay in Rotorua.

The two unions have announced the teams will play for the Macrae-Shelford Bay Cup honouring Ian Macrae and Frank Shelford - two stalwarts of the game who played for the All Blacks and both provinces.

Macrae played seven matches for Bay of Plenty in 1962 before heading to Hawke's Bay to see out his rugby career, playing a further 85 matches between 1963 and 1971.

He played 45 matches for the All Blacks between 1966 and 1970.

Shelford pulled on the Bay of Plenty jersey 121 times between 1977 and 1987, however he wore the Hawke's Bay black and white hoops in 1983 for 12 games before returning to the Bay of Plenty to finish his playing career.

Shelford played 22 matches for the All Blacks in the early 1980s.

Macrae said he was honoured.

"I got to know Frank pretty well when he was playing down in Hawke's Bay. I respect him as a very good player and jointly to have our names on the cup I think is quite fitting.
"I am very proud to be a part of that and I am very much looking forward to get the opportunity to present the cup sometime in the near future."

Shelford, who lives in France, said he was happy and honoured and wished the teams all the best.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Mike Rogers said they were proud to be able to honour two former players who had contributed a great deal to Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay rugby.

"It is fitting that we are able to finally put up a cup for the sides to battle it out and claim who is the 'real' Bay. We are looking forward to the BNZ Battle of the Bays this Friday," he said.

Bay of Plenty play Hawkes Bay at the Rotorua International Stadium this Friday. Kick off is 5.45pm.

Playing History:

Ian Macrae:
Bay of Plenty
7 matches, 1962

Hawke's Bay
85 matches, 1963-71

All Blacks
45 matches, 1966-1970

Frank Shelford:

Bay of Plenty from 1977-87
121 games, 1977

Hawke's Bay in 1983
12 matches, 1983

All Blacks
22 matches, 1981, 1983-85

Information provided by Bay of Plenty Rugby Historian and Statistician Brent Drabble.