Former Manu Samoa No 10 and freelance rugby scribe Campbell Burnes argues that Shield Fever is alive and kicking after the prized Log o’ Wood changed hands on no less than four occasions during the NPC.
Not so long ago, pundits openly wondered whether the Ranfurly Shield had done its dash, no longer relevant in today’s provincial landscape.
Some said it did not move around enough. Others, such as ‘Buck’ Shelford, advocated for it to be contested by purely amateur provincial teams to beef up interest.
Well, those arguments can now surely all be laid to rest as the contest tor New Zealand rugby’s oldest silverware, at 123 years, was as fierce, unbridled and passionate as ever in 2025.
As I write these words, we have just witnessed a quite superb Shield challenge by the Tasman Mako in Christchurch. No one would have quibbled if they had divested the Red and Blacks of the Log. But Canterbury was saved by the (George) Bell after 25 phases. The crowd loved it and the players were cock-a-hoop. Tasman might have been a worthy winner to kick off a second tenure in 12 months, but it was not to be.
The season started with the Shield in the clutches of Taranaki, the Bulls defending it twice against Heartland unions King Country and Thames Valley. Critics claim these pre-season challenges do nothing for the Shield’s lustre as the amateur unions have virtually no chance of lifting it. They are missing the point. It is about community and shared passion, having local fans get to touch and feel the Shield, unlike the untouchable Webb Ellis Cup.
Funnily enough, the first NPC Shield defence of the season fell flat as the Bulls shut out a Northland Taniwha team that barely fired a shot on attack, despite a vaunted pack.
Taranaki was in fine fettle early doors, and a yoyo Waikato team did not appear to be much of a threat when the Mooloos rode into New Plymouth on August 23.
But Waikato, despite not being the best team for most of the contest, stole it at the death via the boot of the veteran Lima Sopoaga.
Just eight days later, Waikato was dusted up by a hungry young Southland Stags, marshalled by Sean Withy and Faletoi Peni. It was the Stags’ first Shield victory since 2011 and they were good for it.
In turn, just six days later, before a packed house in Invercargill, Canterbury delivered one of the finest Shield challenges in history, a 54-14 shutout full of power, pace and panache, to consign Southland to the equal shortest reign. It meant that, in the space of just 14 days, the Shield had seen four holders. It might have been five if Tasman had hung on in Christchurch.
This is not unprecedented. In 1950, there were no less than five holders – Otago, Canterbury, Wairarapa, South Canterbury and North Auckland. The Shield was constantly on the move.
Seeing what it does to the psyche of fans throughout the provinces acts as a potent antidote to the angst we hold whenever the All Blacks fall and fail.
There is almost a mystical element to the Shield. You don’t have to be a rugby history buff to feel it. Long may it continue.
