Misplaced Pages

The Hanan Shield is one of the most prestigious trophies in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1946 after being presented by the Mayor of Timaru, A. E. S. Hanan. The Hanan Shield is based on a challenge system played between North Otago, South Canterbury and Mid Canterbury. The holding union must defend the shield in challenge matches, and if a challenger defeats them, they become the new holder of the shield. A rules change at the end of the 2011 season meant that the shield is contested in all meetings between the holders and one of the other two teams.

Record (1946–2006)

• A draw is recorded as a win for the holders

2007–2010 Mid Canterbury

On 6 October 2007, Mid Canterbury won the Shield from North Otago, who had held the shield since 2000, with a 25–22 victory. In a fiercely contested clash in front of a record crowd at Oamaru's Centennial Park, Mid Canterbury played themselves into a Shield winning position. Mid Canterbury made the decisive break thanks to two stunning solo tries to young winger Brenton Connell, then hung on in the final 20 minutes despite losing star midfielder Jack Umaga to a broken jaw. This ended North Otago's Hanan Shield reign of 14 defences over seven years.

On 9 August 2008 Mid Canterbury made their first Hanan Shield defence when they ran onto the Ashburton Showgrounds to play South Canterbury in the first Hanan Shield match contested under the new experimental law variations (ELVs). It was South Canterbury who put on the early pressure with prop Timaru Tafa crossing in the 6th minute. Mid Canterbury's 19-year-old wing Brenton Connell sliced through a midfield gap on his own 10-metre line, broke a tackle and sprinted away down the left-hand flank to score in the corner. In the 29th minute, loose forward Jon Dampney showed his strength in shrugging off a tackler to score in the corner. Connell made it two for the afternoon when Dampney took a quick throw, which saw the ball spread to the opposite sideline into the hands of Connell who crossed the line and scored. South Canterbury started the second half strong, and scored two tries in the first 10 minutes, to loose forward Eric Smith and Tafa got his second. Mid Canterbury were trailing 19–18 but were not about to give up. A try to second five-eighth Richard Fridd pulled them back into the game, while two more tries were scored by first five-eighth Dan Maw and Dampney who scored his second.

Mid Canterbury retained the Hanan Shield until 2010.

2010 South Canterbury

In the last Hanan Shield challenge in the 2010 Heartland Championship, South Canterbury took the Shield from Mid Canterbury.

2011 North Otago

In the first Hanan Shield challenge of the 2011 Heartland Championship, North Otago uplifted the Shield from South Canterbury. North Otago retained the Shield for one challenge.

2012 Mid Canterbury

Mid Canterbury claimed the Hanan Shield from North Otago with a 7–3 win on 8 September 2012.

2012 South Canterbury

On 13 October 2012 South Canterbury claimed the shield by defeating Mid Canterbury 17–15 at Fraser Park in Timaru. South Canterbury outscored their opponents by three tries to two.

South Canterbury retained the shield by defeating Mid Canterbury 48–20 in the 2012 Lochore Cup semi-final on 21 October.

2013–2016 Mid Canterbury

Mid Canterbury won the Shield with a win 34–27 against South Canterbury on 21 September 2013.

Mid Canterbury defended the shield by defeating North Otago 26–20 in the 2013 Meads Cup final on 26 October. This was also Mid Canterbury's first time winning the Meads Cup.

On 4 October 2014, Mid Canterbury defended the shield against North Otago in Ashburton. They won the match 28–7.

On 11 October 2014, Mid Canterbury defended the shield against South Canterbury in Timaru, only one week after their match against North Otago. They won 24–7.

In the last match of the regular season, Mid Canterbury successfully defended the Shield against North Otago in Oamaru.

In the first match of the 2016 Heartland Championship season, Mid Canterbury defended the Shield for a sixth consecutive time. Mid Canterbury successfully defended the shield in a high-scoring affair.

2016 South Canterbury

On 15 October 2016, South Canterbury, on their home ground, won the Shield from Mid Canterbury. South Canterbury defended the Shield on four occasions throughout 2017 and 2018.

2019 North Otago

On 24 August 2019, in an away fixture, North Otago ended the Shield reign of South Canterbury. North Otago defended the Shield in one challenge, against Mid Canterbury.

2020–2023 South Canterbury

On 12 September 2020, South Canterbury won the Shield back from North Otago.

Combined Hanan Shield selections

A combined Mid Canterbury, North Otago and South Canterbury team has been selected to play touring international teams:

• On 9 June 1971, against the British Lions at Timaru, losing 6-25. Neville Twaddell (South Canterbury) scored 2 penalties.
• On 22 June 1977, against the British Lions at Timaru, losing 6-45. Doug Nicol (South Canterbury) scored 2 penalties.
• On 25 July 1990, against Australia at Timaru, losing 0-34.
• On 15 April 1992, against the World XV at Timaru, losing 3-74.

See also

• Ranfurly Shield
• Heartland Championship
• Rundle Cup

References

1. Leask, Jonathan (3 October 2012). "New rules means Hanan Shield goes on the line". rugbyunionrules.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013.
2. "Mid Canterbury ends North Otago's streak". 31 January 2009.
3. "Fixtures and Results – 2011 Heartland Championship". Heartland Championship. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
4. O'Neil, Terry. "Rugby: Mid Canterbury wins to claim Hanan Shield". Otago Daily Times. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
5. Piddington, Stu: "South Canterbury storm on to Lochore Cup final". Stuff.co.nz. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
6. ^ "Mistakes cost South Canterbury Hanan Shield". The Timaru Herald. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014 – via Stuff.co.nz.
7. Leask, Jonathan. "Rugby: Mid Canterbury claim Meads Cup". The New Zealand Herald. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
8. ^ "Pink Batts Heartland Championship 2014 draw released". Heartland Championship. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
9. "Mid Canterbury retains Shield, Heartland results". Online Guardian. 4 October 2014. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
10. "Rugby: North Otago's Lochore Cup spot in jeopardy". Otago Daily Times. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
11. "Mid Canterbury grab a semis spot in Meads Cup". Stuff.co.nz. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
12. McConnell, Lynn (10 October 2015). "Wairarapa Bush squeak into Meads Cup play-offs". Heartland Championship. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
13. "Fixtures and Results". Heartland Championship. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
14. McDonnell, Lynn (27 August 2016). "Champions make winning Heartland start". Heartland Championship. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
15. "HIGHLIGHTS: South Canterbury v Mid Canterbury (Heartland Championship 2023)". Provincial Rugby. 24 September 2023.
16. Howitt, Bob (1992). Radio New Zealand Sport Rugby Annual 1992. Auckland: Moa Beckett. p. 37. ISBN 1 86947 114 8.

• New Zealand rugby union competitions
• Rugby union trophies and awards
• New Zealand sports trophies and awards
• 1946 establishments in New Zealand