North Harbour picks Ranfurly Shield opponents

North Harbour will put the Ranfurly Shield up against two Heartland Championship unions next season.

They will play Thames Valley and Horowhenua Kapiti, with the tentative dates June 30 and July 14 respectively, at North Harbour Stadium.

Harbour must defend the shield against five Air New Zealand Cup teams if they are to keep it for the season.

Those games are against Taranaki, Waikato, Manawatu, Bay of Plenty and Southland.