Hawke’s Bay Rugby have confirmed two Heartland Union’s will challenge for the Ranfurly Shield in 2022.  Neighbors Poverty Bay and 2021 Meads Cup winners, South Canterbury have both had their challenges accepted, the HBRU announced today.

Last years dominant Heartland side South Canterbury will come to Napier on Wednesday June 29^th intent on securing the shield for the first time since 1974 while neighbors Poverty Bay will travel down the Pacific Coast Highway for their first crack at winning the Shield, confirmed for Saturday July 30^th.

“These Shield matches have been scheduled where possible to minimise the disruption to our club season as possible but also in working with these proud Unions as we know the Heartland opposition will be challenging opponents who will be highly motivated by the opportunity to play for and try and win the Log of Wood’’ Magpies Head Coach, Josh Syms said today.

South Canterbury, as Meads Cup winners, are a compulsory challenge and Syms confirmed ‘they will be a tough assignment while we are excited about giving our neighbors a crack in what will be a great ‘Battle of the Bays’ he further stated.

The Magpies that defend the Shield for these two games will be a mixture of locally club players and returning Super Rugby Pacific players and Syms noted that club form over the coming few months will dictate selection.

South Canterbury CEO Craig Calder stated ‘We are extremely excited to be given this opportunity to challenge for the famous Ranfurly Shield.  It has been over 16 years since we last challenged and there is huge interest from our rugby community to journey to the Hawkes Bay to witness the challenge and we will be well prepared and up for it and certainly something the entire province is really looking forward to’’

”CPS Poverty Bay Head Coach Miah Nikora confirmed ‘The Ranfurly shield is the most coveted prize in NZ provincial rugby. It’s not every day do you get the opportunity to challenge for it, especially coming from a Heartland Union. We are grateful to Hawkes Bay for accepting our challenge and we are excited at what the challenge presents’

The remaining provinces to challenge for the shield, should Hawke’s Bay be successful in these first two, will not be determined until New Zealand Rugby releases the NPC draw which is expected towards the end of March. The Magpies will play in a new NPC format for 2022 with the first round kicking off on August 5^th.