Hawke's Bay Rugby Union staff member Adam Blake proudly puts a new and trimmer Ranfurly Shield back in front of the public during a Rippa Rugby day for school children at Ron Giorgi Park, Flaxmere. Photo / Paul Taylor
The original shield was donated to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union in 1902 by former Governor General and 5th Earl of Ranfurly Sir Uchter John Mark Knox.
Made of English oak, it is arguably the most-revered trophy in New Zealand sport.
The Ranfurly Shield, the newly-minted Mk III version, on display amid the Rippa Rugby players at Ron Giorgi Park, Flaxmere, early this afternoon. Photo / Paul Taylor
A replacement trophy, with a new piece of English oak, was handed over to the Wellington Lions last August.
But it lasted less than two months, and just hours after its first handover, when it was dropped at a private party during the Magpies celebrations in Napier.
Young Hastings rugby players clamber to get a hand on the Ranfurly Shield at Ron Giorgi Park, Flaxmere. Photo / Paul Taylor.
But after the break, and a photo of the broken shield with white powder on it was circulated, it was sent back to Wellington for repairs and a NZRU investigation launched.
The investigation failed to identify the white substance and the priority became fixing the Log o’ Wood, and making it stronger.
It has come back as yet another piece of English oak, apparently stronger according to NZRU , and incorporating components of the previous models, such as the centrepiece metalwork and miniature shields denoting the winners over the years – including the name of Hawke’s Bay seven times.
Included is a case to help protect and store the trophy.
Gently, gently, the Ranfurly Shield in its case. Photo / Paul Taylor
Hawke’s Bay Rugby is now hoping to display the new shield as often as possible as it prepares for the first defence of a new era.
Today’s appearance in Hastings was historic and symbolic, as Hastings was the host of Hawke’s Bay’s first ever Ranfurly Shield defence, in 1922.
It was the first of eight defences at Nelson Park, now the site of The Warehouse and other major retailing off Karamu Rd, during a shield era of 26 consecutive wins before the shield departed in 1927.
All other Ranfurly Shield matches in Hawke’s Bay have been played at McLean Park.
However, with the stadium out of action for three months of turf maintenance, the Magpies and the union are banking on a match for the ages – from children to parents and grandparents - for the first defence, a 3pm Wednesday start on June 26.
New Black Ferns squad member and Flaxmere hero Kahlia Awa (right) with the children, and the Ranfurly Shield. Photo / Paul Taylor.
The arrival of the new shield at Ron Giorgi Park came without prior announcement, arriving in the safe custody of HBRU staff members Adam Blake and Magpies player Jason Long and chief executive officer Jay Campbell, while also present was a genuine Flaxmere hero in new Black Ferns New Zealand women’s squad member Kahlia Awa.
Campbell said the union wanted to get the shield “out there” around Hawke’s Bay as often as possible before the first defence, taking it to rugby days, schools and other events.
“We are really proud being the holder of the Ranfurly Shield,” he said.
“It’s exciting to get the shield back into the community where it belongs, and there will be a number of events at which the shield will be front and centre.”
