Log o Wood tours South Wairarapa

Hundreds of South Wairarapa schoolchildren had the opportunity to see, touch and be photographed with New Zealand rugby's most famous trophy, the Ranfurly Shield, last Thursday. Kuranui College was loaned the shield by current holders, Wellington Rugby Union, as part of their desire to give as many people as possible the chances to see the "log o' wood" and principal Geoff Shepherd, along with members of Kuranui's own rugby teams, ferried it around the South Wairarapa district. They stopped off at Featherston, Kahutara, Martinborough, Gladstone, Carterton and Dalefield primary schools along the way and Shepherd was delighted with the welcome they received.
"It was a fantastic experience and great to see so many smiling faces," he said, noting that none of the students and seven of the teachers would not have been born when Wellington last held the Shield back in 1982.
A special visit was also made with the trophy by Kuranui first XV player Glen Walters the highest points scorer in Wellington secondary schools rugby in 2008 to the Masterton home of Alan "Kiwi" Blake, captain of the Wairarapa side which took the Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury by 3-0 in 1950.