Within twenty four hours of moving to the 'Naki, I managed to get my hands on the Ranfurly Shield. Known as the log o' wood, the shield has been around since 1904 and is legendary in New Zealand where it contested in the domestic league. Unusually, the shield is not played for in your usual league or knock-out cup competition but in a challenge system where the holders must defend it at their home ground (away games don't apply). So, the 14 provinces play against one another in the ITM cup competition (league format) but as the season is played out, there may be a number of shield challenges within it. For example, during last season, Canterbury held onto it for two defences then had a couple of away games. They were then beaten at home by Southland who then took the Log down to Invercargill. Taranaki beat Southland in Invercargill and brought the Shield back here. The tradition and passion behind it is so strong that there were grown men in New Plymouth airport crying with joy when the team arrived home with the Log - the first time it had been back in the province since 1996. Taranaki successfully defended it once before the end of the season so have had the pleasure and of looking after it for the summer. It doesn't sit in a trophy cabinet though - everyone in town seems to have had a shot of it!
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