The Ranfurly Shield

The shield is currently causing heaps of excitement for us here in Taranaki. I know most readers may not be up on their NZ rugby facts but the Ranfurly Shield has been around the NZ rugby scene for more than 100 years. They also call it the Log O'Wood. It's a trophy that's separate from the seasonal cup in the leagues. For the current holders of the Shield, every home game puts it at risk. If they play an away game it's not on the line and once the playoffs roll around it's not part of that either.

Last year Taranaki won it off of Southland and have successfully defended it so far this season. Teams from other leagues under them even come in to challenge them. Yesterday we finally attended a Shield match as one of the top teams, Canterbury, was coming to town. It was a nail-biting game but the ol' amber and black pulled through with a win.

Unfortunately because Dustin was working, we missed the parade yesterday morning! (Ok that might not be the only reason we missed it, I don't know if Dustin - being anti-parades - would have come out anyway!)

He also gets the Shield for biggest beard in the league.

At the end of the game they carried the Shield around the stadium and let people touch it. I think next time we'll have to hang around for that. The other highlight of the game was the halftime giveaway - the Yarrows Bread chuck! On of the sponsors is a bread company so what else would you do but load up a little trailer with bread and then have two local celebrities walk around the edge of the field throwing loaves of bread to fans? Lucky for us, we got invited to a BBQ after the game where some much-coveted "Shield Bread" was on the menu thanks to our host with orangutan arms.

The next match is in 2 weeks. I think we will join the Amber Army for that game. They are a group that stands in one section of the terraces and they handout lyric sheets and they have all sorts of chants and songs they belt out to be heard across the field. Now, we just need to find some amber and black clothes to wear...

Go the 'Naki!