Shield fever is alive and well in New Plymouth today as Manawatu come to town looking to take the log o wood off of Taranaki. This is only the second time that Naki will defend the Shield against a fellow Mitre10Cup side after taking it off Canterbury last October. They beat Manawatu 46-25 at Yarrow Stadium a week after beating Canterbury and will be looking for a similar result today.

Taranaki will be looking to bounce back from a shock 30-10 defeat to Bay of Plenty last weekend while Manawatu started their season with a 24-19 win over Waikato.

Stay with us for live updates

The two teams were inseparable during a six-year period between 1954 and 1960 – there were four draws and a win and a loss-a-piece during that time


In recent time, there have been 17 players who played for both Taranaki and Manawatu – most notably Mitchell Crosswell, Kurt Baker, Andre Taylor and Jason Eaton

These two teams have met six times in Ranfurly Shield matches first in 1914, 1958, 1964, 1977, 2012 and 2017 – Manawatu won in 1977


Manawatu first claimed the Ranfurly Shield in 1976 and held it through until 1978 with 13 successful defences


Manawatu hasn’t won a championship in New Plymouth since 1986

Taranaki’s largest win was in 1999 where the amber and blacks won 69-12
Manawatu’s largest win came in 1991 winning 39

Taranaki has won 59 matches, lost 24 and drawn seven since that time