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The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is arguably the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies. The holding union must defend the Shield in challenge matches, and if a challenger defeats them, they become the new holder of the Shield.

Holders

Only two teams held the Ranfurly Shield from 1904 to 1909:

Union	Won	Successful defences
Auckland	Awarded in 1902	0
Wellington	6 August 1904	4
Auckland	26 August 1905	12

Fixtures

1904

Auckland	3–6	Wellington
Try: Henry Kiernan		Try: Donaldson Gray, Duncan McGregor

Wellington	6–3	Canterbury
Try: Billy Wallace (2)		Try: P.J. Burns

Wellington	15–13	Otago
Try: Duncan McGregor (2), Billy Wallace Con: Duncan McGregor Goal from mark: Duncan McGregor		Try: James Duncan King, W.J. Munro, Colin Gilray Con: Ernest Booth (2)

1905

Wellington	3–3	Wairarapa
Try: William James Hardham		Try: R. Spackman

Wellington	11–3	Hawke's Bay
Try: John Spencer, J.P. Blacklock, P.A. Anderson Con: George Spencer		Try: M. McCarthy

Wellington	6–10	Auckland
Pen: George Spencer (2)		Try: Richard Wynyard, William Tyler Drop: Arthur Francis

1906

Auckland	29–6	Canterbury
Try: Richard Wynyard (2), William Hay-MacKenzie, George Nicholson, Charlie Seeling Con: John Henry Dufty (4) Pen: John Henry Dufty Drop: John Henry Dufty		Pen: Donald Fraser Drop: Donald Fraser

Auckland	18–5	Taranaki
Try: George Gillett, Charlie Seeling, R.B. Magee Con: John Henry Dufty (3) Drop: John Henry Dufty		Try: Donald Cameron Con: Arthur Hardgrave

Auckland	48–12	Southland
Try: George Nicholson (3), George Smith (2), William Hay-MacKenzie (2), William Tyler, Henry Kiernan, Frank Wilson Con: John Henry Dufty (7) Drop: John Henry Dufty		Try: T.A. Clark Con: Donald Cameron Hamilton Pen: Donald Cameron Hamilton Drop: E.E. Hughes

Auckland	11–5	Wellington
Try: Richard Wynyard Con: John Henry Dufty Pen: John Henry Dufty Drop: John Henry Dufty		Try: Hector Thomson Con: Billy Wallace

1907

Auckland	21–0	Buller
Try: G.W. Murray (3), Richard Wynyard (3), C. Dillamore

Auckland	12–3	Hawke's Bay
Try: Harold Hayward, G.W. Murray, J.H. Hall, William Wynyard		Try: T. McIntyre

Auckland	6–5	Wanganui
Try: Albert Asher, J.H. Hall		Try: Albert Carroll Con: L.L. Hitchings

1908

Auckland	32–0	Marlborough
Try: E. Coote (2), Frank Wilson, R.B. Magee, Arthur Francis, G.W. Murray, Charlie Seeling Con: R.B. Magee (4) Drop: R.B. Magee

Auckland	24–3	Wellington
Try: George Bater (2), G.W. Murray (2), George Nicholson Con: R.B. Magee (3) Drop: R.B. Magee		Try: W.C. Alexander

Auckland	9–0	Taranaki
Try: George Gillett, C.W. Murray Pen: George Gillett

Auckland	11–5	Otago
Try: George Bater, Frank Morse, G.W. Murray Con: R.B. Magee		Try: Alex McDonald Con: Harry Paton

1909

Auckland	18–5	Taranaki
Try: Dougie McGregor (2), George Sellars, G.W. Murray, Harold Hayward, Joe O'Leary		Try: Donald Cameron Con: Ernest Dive

Notes

1. "Wellington Match". Papers Past. Auckland Star. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
2. "A Win For The Local Team". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
3. "An Interesting Match". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
4. "A Drawn Game". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
5. "Auckland's Team The Winners". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 28 August 1905. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
6. "Latter Hopelessly Beaten". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 13 August 1906. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
7. "Match Won By The Northern Team". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 20 August 1906. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
8. "Latter Severely Beaten". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 27 August 1906. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
9. "Win For The Northerners". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 3 September 1906. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
10. "Fine, Fast Open Game". Papers Past. New Zealand Herald. 12 August 1907. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
11. "Win For The Northern Team". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 16 September 1907. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
12. "An Interesting Game". Papers Past. Marlborough Express. 10 August 1908. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
13. "Wellington Team Badly Beaten". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
14. "Taranaki Beaten By Auckland". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 31 August 1908. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
15. "Otago Beaten By Auckland". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 14 September 1908. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
16. "Auckland Defeats Taranaki". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 13 September 1909. Retrieved 15 September 2023.

References

• Knight, Lindsay (1980). Shield Fever. Auckland, New Zealand: Rugby Press. ISBN 0-9597553-8-1.
• Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Ron, Palenski (1987). The Encyclopedia Of New Zealand Rugby. Auckland, New Zealand: MOA Publications. p. 267. ISBN 0-908570-16-3.
• Knight, Lindsay (2002). The Shield. Auckland, New Zealand: Celebrity Books. ISBN 1-877252-13-1.
• Carman, Arthur (1967). Ranfurly Shield Rugby. A.H. and A.W. Reed Ltd.
• Swan, Arthur (1960). The Log O' Wood. Christchurch, New Zealand: Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd.
• "Ranfurly Shield". Rugby Heartland. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2023.

• Ranfurly Shield
• 1904 in New Zealand rugby union
• 1905 in New Zealand rugby union
• 1906 in New Zealand rugby union
• 1907 in New Zealand rugby union
• 1908 in New Zealand rugby union
• 1909 in New Zealand rugby union