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New Zealand's esteemed Ranfurly Shield trophy trashed in party rampage
By AAP
New Zealand Rugby will confiscate and repair the coveted Ranfurly Shield from recent winners Hawke's Bay after their players broke the trophy, and appear to have used it for drug taking.
Pictures were posted on social media of the trophy, also known as the 'log o' wood', broken in two, with a caption reading "f**k we broke the ranfurly".
On one half of the trophy appears to be white powder, including some chopped up into lines, along with a rolled up piece of paper.
The destruction of the shield occurred during celebrations on Saturday night, after the Hawke's Bay Magpies claimed the trophy with a 20-18 win over holders Wellington Lions.
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union chief executive Jay Campbell said the trophy was accidentally broken when it was dropped onto a concrete floor.
"No one is more disappointed than Hawke's Bay Rugby and those involved," Mr Campbell is quoted by Radio NZ as saying.
"For us to be the cause of damage to something that's so unique and special to New Zealand rugby is devastating.
"It was an absolute accident."
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) had just replaced the old trophy - which was in service for 108 years - with a new one, made from English oak taken from Wellington's Hutt Valley, like the original.
The Ranfurly Shield is a challenge competition fought over by New Zealand's provincial rugby unions since 1904.
Once a team has taken possession of the log o' wood, it must be won off them in a match in their home province.
Wellington - who won the trophy last year off Hawke's Bay - had held possession for seven challenges, the most successful run in the history of the Ranfurly Shield.
NZR executive Steve Lancaster said the governing body was "deeply disappointed".
"NZR will now take possession of the shield, begin the process of repair and reassess the protocols in place to look after it," he said.
"Our intention is that the Ranfurly Shield remains a part of the community, is enjoyed by those who hold it and cared for as a taonga (treasure) of our game."
Broadcaster Scotty Stevenson fumed at the debacle in an emotional piece written for TVNZ.
"Many of the greatest players in this nation's provincial rugby history spent years trying to win that hunk of lumber. Many never did," he said.
"To watch it seemingly treated like some throw-away prop at a B-grade party actually hurts."
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Latest Comments
Gotta love a coach who'll throw his players under the bus instead of taking the loss on his chin. No wonder his team lacks confidence with a bellend like him in charge.
Go to commentsI agree re-Barrett, he would be an excellent 6. Vaai he called him the squads Terminator! No use in shutting out other specialist 6s though like Frizell and Finau.
I don't think the Saders want Darry tbh, already have so much locking talent in Strange, Cahill, Hannah, and Barrett, with Gallagher returning after a spell at the Canes.
As for your ideas on SRP, I was thinking more expansion into the islands. Why just a Fijian team? Why not a Samoan and Tongan team as well? I think adding Japan could be cool, since they are in roughly the same timezone so not much jet lag. Only issue is that their seasons are reversed! Same with USA.
I think the best option is to keep to ourselves, with AUS, NZ, SAM, FIJ, and TNG. 5 teams for Australia (Brumbies, Reds, Tahs, Force, Rebels), 5 for NZ (Saders, Canes, Blues, Chiefs, Landers), and 4 for the PIs (Moana Pasifika, Drua, Tongan team, Samoan team).
If we expand into the PIs, we cut off a source of talent and entertainment from the Northern competitions like Top 14, and open a whole new market of people. Increase advertisment in Japan as well, since their in the same timezone, and we could be on track for a very good competition.
Plus, we would get gamedays like in America, one game queued up after another. Makes it a whole lot easier if you can just flick on the telly and BOOM theres the games. No need to plan out when things are, just get your mates around, flick it on in the background and chill with a cold beverage.
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