New Zealand rugby trophies on tour
21 Feb 2011
A road trip, aimed at taking rugby’s greatest prizes back to the grassroots of the game, in what will be the most important year for the sport in New Zealand, has begun its 26-province tour.
The New Zealand Rugby Union has decided to empty out the trophy cabinet and take five special treasures, including the Webb Ellis Cup, on a nationwide Registration Drive and Trophy Tour to get youngsters excited about rugby and encourage them to register to play in 2011.
As well as gleaming trophies, silver cups and historic shields, the tour will include a range of fun activities to attract potential players as it works its way around the country visiting 31 towns in five weeks.
Rugby World Cup 2011
With New Zealand hosting Rugby World Cup 2011 in September, the Union wants to make the most of the huge focus on the sport and has come up with several initiatives involving Provincial Unions.
The trophies going on tour include the Bledisloe Cup, the Tri-Nations Trophy, the Hillary Shield (for matches against England), the IRB Women's Rugby World Cup and the IRB Junior World Championship Trophy.
The Webb Ellis Cup - the ultimate prize at this year’s Rugby World Cup - will also make a guest appearance at 15 of the road trip stops.
NZRU General Manager of Community Rugby and Provincial Unions Brent Anderson says the coveted prize will be taken to provinces that host the Trophy Tour but miss out on the Webb Ellis Cup, before or after the official tour.
First stop, Nelson
The Trophy Tour got underway on 12 February at Trafalgar Park in Nelson, the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby and where the first game, under official rules, was played in 1870.
Tasman chief executive Peter Barr said the tour was a unique opportunity for people to get up close with some of rugby's greatest treasures all in one place at one time.
He said the trophies were centre stage at a fun-filled community event with families having photos taken with them and youngsters testing their rugby skills in organised activities.
Extra entertainment is provided on tour by the children's rugby mascot Rugger, the Ruggerbees and the Ruggerland Bouncy Castle.
Stadium of Four million
Brent Anderson said it was the first time the Rugby Union had embarked on such an ambitious project, but the trophies shouldn’t always be locked away in a cabinet.
"Taking these prizes to New Zealand communities is an important part of ensuring people feel part of the game and also fulfils the ‘Stadium of Four Million’ concept which was part of our Rugby World Cup 2011 hosting bid," he said.
This is the traditional registration time of year for most rugby clubs, and the Trophy Tour was a great way of supporting provincial unions and their annual drive to get kids signed up to play, said Anderson.
From Nelson, the Trophy Tour will cover the South Island ending in Invercargill before heading to Wellington on 27 February for the start of the North Island sector. It will then work its way up to Northland and finish in Taranaki on 20 March.
Trophy information
The Bledisloe Cup - the traditional prize of trans-Tasman rivalry which the All Blacks retained for the eighth year in a row in 2010.
The Tri Nations Trophy - honours were taken off South Africa by the All Blacks in a solid 2010 Investec Tri Nations Series.
The Hillary Shield - named in honour of Sir Edmund Hillary and unveiled in 2008, it is contested between the All Blacks and England, and was again won by the All Blacks on the Telecom BackingBlack Grand Slam Tour in November 2010.
The IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup - the Black Ferns claimed their fourth consecutive World Cup win in September 2010.
The IRB Junior World Championship Trophy - won for a third straight year by the New Zealand Under 20 side last year.
More information:
Rugby World Cup 2011
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