Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union
The Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union is a rugby province in the South Island of New Zealand.
History
The Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union was formed in 1904 as Ashburton Country, first as a sub-union of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union and then of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union. The union gained full status in 1927, and changed its name to Mid Canterbury in 1952.Clubs
Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union is made up of 9 clubs:- Allenton
- Celtic
- Collegiate
- Hampstead
- Methven
- Mount Somers
- Rakaia
- Southern
- Tinwald
- 2023 Celtic
- 2024 Southern
- 2025 Celtic
Provincial representative rugby
The Mid Canterbury team play from Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton.National Provincial Championship (NPC)
In the NPC Mid Canterbury won:- the 2nd division South Island in 1980 and 1983
- the 3rd division in 1994 and 1998.
Heartland Championship
In the Heartland Championship which commenced in 2006 Mid Canterbury have won:- the Meads Cup in 2013 and 2014
- the Lochore Cup in 2017.
Hanan Shield
The Hanan Shield is one of the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1946, the Hanan Shield is based on a challenge system played between North Otago, South Canterbury and Mid Canterbury.Ranfurly Shield
Mid Canterbury have never held the Ranfurly Shield. Unsuccessful challenges include:All Blacks
There have been 3 players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing their club rugby in Mid Canterbury.- Denis Cameron: All Black number 614, who played 8 games as a wing on the 1960 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia and South Africa.
- Grant Perry: All Black number 813, who played 1 game as a hooker on the 1980 tour to Fiji.
- Jock Ross: All Black number 830 who played 5 games as a lock on the 1981 tour to France and Romania