RANFURLY SHIELD

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 102, 2 May 1928, Page 11

RANFURLY SHIELD

♦ NUMEROUS CHALLENGER* CANTERBURY'S TASK Canterbury at present holds the Ranfurly Shield, and the indications are that with eight of its leading players away with the New Zealand team the province will have its work cut out to retain the Rugby trophy. The question of challenging for the Shield has been discussed by various unions, and already the intentions of bidding for it has been noted in a number of eases. Matches with Canterbury for the Shield will also be sought after during the conference of Dominion. d-legates in Wellington, when representative fixtures are being arranged. On the order paper for the New Zealand Rugby Union's annual meeting there is an item concerning the Shield, this being in the matter of accepting^ challenges before a certain date." The Auckland Bugby Union, through its delegates, is to move that an. amendment be made to the Banfurly Shield regulations to the effect that the holders of the trophy shall not be required, unless they elect otherwise, to play any; challenge match before the first Saturday in July. j Wairaraga,, who ha(j. the Shield for a term last season, arei anxious to make an early bid for it,' and«their chance will probably come during the southern tour of their representative team. It is probable that Otago will have an early match with Canterbury and it remains to be seen whether subsequent claimants to possession of the Shield will require to go to Dunedin to make their bid. The Hawkes Bay Rugby Union's Management Committee decided at its last meeting to enter a challenge for the trophy, and it w.as left to the delegates to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union to arrange a date. Word comes from Whangarei that North Auckland proposes to make a trip in search of the Shield, and. Auckland also ' anticipates a Shield match in .the course of its southern tour. Wellington will also be making a trip south this year, and this union will, no doubt, be amongst the challengers, though it did not enter the running last year. At a recent meeting of tha Waikato Bugby Union a suggestion to send a team in quest of the Shield met with some disfavour. Tentative dates for the Ranfurly Shield are likely to be made during the assembly of Dominion delegates ia Wellington this week.