Rugby: Caucau adds zing to Shield challenge

Northland rugby fans will be hoping the return of Rupeni Caucaunibuca will boost their chances of snatching the Ranfurly Shield in week one of the ITM Cup.

The Taniwha will be the first team to have a crack at the Ranfurly Shield when the ITM Cup kicks off in August.

Waikato are the holders of the Log of Wood.

They will be under new guidance after the retirement of Alex Bradley, who captained them to wrestling the Ranfurly Shield off Taranaki late last year.

Northlanders will have the chance to see the Taniwha in action at home on five occasions, against Southland, Wellington, Tasman, Otago and Bay of Plenty - the first of which will be in week two against the Southlanders.

However, opening the ITM Cup will be last season's championship winners, Counties Manukau, against the Wellington Lions when the new season gets under way on Thursday, August 15.

The match, at Pukekohe's ECOLight Stadium, is the first of seven matches in week one of the nine-week 2013 season draw.

The first week's action also sees the traditional Battle of the Bridge between Auckland and North Harbour, with the two Auckland-based teams playing for the Brian Purdy Memorial Trophy and the Newstalk ZB Trans Harbour Trophy.