Just what does the Ranfurly Shield mean to provincial Rugby? Financially, the shield is worth untold wealth—this fact will be vouched for by Napier shopkeepers who were indeed sorry when the shield was lost after a lengthy tenure.

But, finance aside, the shield has an invigorating effect on the standard of play. Contrast the calibre of the Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa players of to-day with the standard being displayed this season.

In 1924–25 Hawke's Bay had such renowned players as Maurice Brownlie, Cyril Brownlie, Jimmy Mill, George Nepia, Luis Paewai, Alec Kirkpatrick and “Bull” Irvine; while, during the period it held the shield, Wairarapa had such sterling players as Quentin Donald, C. Stringfellow and A. E. Cooke.

Apart from the fact that many good players will mysteriously find employment wherever the shield reposes, the local players, determined that the shield shall remain in their city, play superlative football. Then comes the loss of the shield. Mysteriously enough, a subsequent loss of form is immediately noted. Such is the power of the Ranfurly Shield!