Rugby: 'Internal tour' for Ranfurly Shield

When is the Ranfurly Shield taken on tour when it's not on tour?

The answer, in this case, is when Waikato defend the shield in Tokoroa.

Kiwi Searancke's side face second-division Wanganui today, with the holders certain to score another big victory after walloping West Coast and North Otago.

The southern branch of Waikato rugby has been given the chance to stage a Ranfurly Shield game and will collect all the profits. Adding to the unusual flavour of this game, it will also act as a sort of curtainraiser to a test match.

The 12.30 pm kickoff means the players and spectators will have just enough time to get into the Memorial Sports Ground clubrooms to watch the All Blacks and South Africa clash in Christchurch.

A capacity crowd of 5000 is expected at the ground and clubrooms. Adults will be charged only $12.

Local officials launched into a promotional campaign and in the spirit of the event, the Waikato side stayed in Tokoroa last night after training there, signing autographs and attending a mayoral reception.

Wanganui have never won the shield and are likely to struggle against a Waikato team who are near full strength.

Wanganui won only two games in the second division last year, finishing eighth.

Waikato: Todd Miller, Roger Randle, Keith Lowen, Mark Ranby, Bruce Reihana, Glen Jackson, Ben Willis; Deon Muir (c), Jono Gibbes, Nick Holten, Chresten Davis, Royce Willis, Paul Martin, Guy Coleman, Deacon Manu. Reserves: Grant McQuoid, Haden Hireme, Rhys Duggan; Scott Couch, Tony Petero, Tony Philp, Anton Edwards.

Wanganui: Donovan Nepia, Johnny Muir, Dwayne Kemp, Darren Balcombe, David Kereti, Jerome Nahona, Raymond Lee Mason; Paul Ipipi-Amani, Scott Brider, Chris Masoe, John Thomson (c), J.J. Walker, Peter Hay, Danny Logan, Vern Pomana. Reserves: Scott Brown, Richard Ropata, Jason Hamlin; Karl Leary, Paul Belliss/Giles McHugh, Jeremy Emmett/Kim Brown, James Urwin.