A NEW RUGBY SHIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19396, 3 August 1926, Page 6

A NEW RUGBY SHIELD.

GIFT TO AUCKLAND UNION. TRIBUTE FROM SOUTHLAND. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] INVERCARGILL, Monday. The Southland Shield will shortly be formally handed over to the Auckland Rugby Football Union by the Southland Amateur Sports Trust. This shield has been donated in recognition of the response made by Auckland to the art union conducted from Southland in- the interests of the sport. Although many thousands of , tickets were disposed of in Auckland little or none of the prize money found its way so far north and the members of the trust in which, the art union funds are vested have therefore donated the shield in recognition. .At -present no stipulations are being made in regard to the terms of competition for, the trophy, the donors being content to leave tho deciding of this point to the union. It is understood, however, that the shield will be allocated for competition among the senior teams. 9 The background of the shield is of oak, 34in. by 24in. The solid silver centrepiece, 30in. by 20in., is surrounded by 13 silver discs on which the names of the various winners will be ■inscribed. On the top panel of the centrepiece the caption "The Southland Shield" is boldly inscribed; while on the bottom panel the wording is "Presented to the Auckland Rugby Football Union by the Southland Amateur Sports Trust," 1925." In the centre is a representation in relief of Rugby players in action, this being surrounded by laurel wreaths.