The Ross Shield Tournament is now well established as the pinnacle of primary schools’ rugby in the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union’s district and has been competed for by the various districts of Wairoa, Napier, Hastings, Central Hawke’s Bay, Taupo and Dannevirke since 1902. This makes it older than even the Ranfurly Shield.

Each year players under the age of 14 travel to play a week long festival of rugby; it is competitive and challenging but it creates levels of discipline and skill which become life-long lessons. From this nursery have come many footballers who have gone onto higher honours in the various aspects of the game, as well as in life.

The hosting township embraces the tournament and celebrates these youngsters who represent their families, their schools, their districts with passion and commitment.

Mr J R Ross, a Napier businessman and keen sports’ enthusiast, donated the shield for competition among primary schools in the HBRU area. The record of the individual school holders is engraved on the shield itself and since 1923 the name of the winning district was engraved. Initially, whilst waiting for the shield to be made and formally presented, a rugby ball was donated as the prize to the winning school; but once the shield appeared the winning schools’ names was engraved to record the history.

Some time in the 1915–16 era the shield was destroyed in a school fire, a new one was carved and embellished and thus it continues to this day, albeit with two extra layers having been added to accommodate the ensuing years.

It is apparent that schools from Napier south only became involved in the early years and this must have created some transport difficulties to overcome by the challengers. The early system was a play off between the best north school (Napier, Hastings) against the best of the south (CHB, Dannevirke).

It is well to recall that in those days primary schools often retained pupils until they were 15 years old (the old proficiency exam had to be passed before a pupil could move on to secondary school). Up until the late thirties age was often a point of debate at the Managers’ Meetings but as the system of promotion in schools changed, the issue resolved itself.

During World War 1 no competition was held and immediately after the war there were several years without competition. It appeared that the shield had lost some of its impact and some reforms were required.

The Secretary/Manager of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, Mr W L Dunn, was instrumental in setting up the basis of the present competition, i.e. a selection was made from schools in a sub-union and the selected schools met at the tournament.

The basic format has survived with some variations to this day and the developments and refinements made have produced an exciting and interesting tournament.

Dannevirke has been an integral part of Ross Shield Tournaments since the early 1920’s and played under the title of Southern and later played as Dannevirke when Woodville’s interest went into the Bush Rugby Union.

Wairoa began their association in 1936 and won their first tournament in the following year.

Taupo made their first appearance in 1943 and were withdrawn in 1988 as they became affiliated to the King Country Union. They marked their involvement with the presentation of the Taupo Trophy presented to the player of the tournament. Special dispensation was given to the Taupo schools to participate in 1988 to allow them to host the tournament for the last time. To prevent the bye, Hastings, being historically the most successful Sub-Union, was divided into two districts and now enter two teams. The division was not gained without argument and it required a resolution from the HBRU to stipulate that Hastings could provide two teams.

The stylized emblem we have adopted was accepted in 1984 and has now become widely identified and recognised. Also in that year a Reunion was held in Hastings to mark the city’s centenary and a marvellous day of activity resulted, culminating with NZRFU guest speakers.

A centenary was held in Napier in 2002 and was attended by 700 past players and coaches and dimmed memories were rejuvenated, not always with accuracy.

The Ranfurly Shield did not command respect in its early days, and it has survived much controversy, dispute and criticism, to be the most sought after trophy in New Zealand rugby. The Wattie’s Ross Shield has been through all of that and survived, in fact growing from strength to strength. It is a tournament for players who are striving to help their team win, and for five teams to accept defeat, this can’t be a bad thing.

Those of us who have shared in the Ross Shield experience say so with pride and so too will future generations of players, managers and enthusiasts.

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