* Auckland is alleged to dominate the National Provincial Championship in rugby union in the 1980s and 90s, when Auckland won the championship in 15 out of 30 years and never lost in a final, holding the prestigious Ranfurly Shield trophy for a record 61 successful defences over 8 years.

The Earl of Ranfurly presented the Ranfurly Shield to the NZRFU.

The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o ' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition.

First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies.

Although the professional era of rugby has seen competitions such as the ITM Cup and Super Rugby detracting from the pre-eminence of the Ranfurly Shield, many still regard it as the greatest prize in New Zealand domestic rugby, thanks to its long history, the fact that every challenge is a sudden-death defence of the Shield, and that any team, no matter how lowly, has a chance to win.

In August 2008, the New Zealand Rugby Union released a competitions review that proposed dramatic changes to the Ranfurly Shield rules:

# redirect Ranfurly Shield

* 15 August: Bay of Plenty beat Auckland 33-28 to take the Ranfurly Shield

* 5 September: Canterbury beat Bay of Plenty 33-26 to take the Ranfurly Shield

* 1936 1 August – First Ranfurly Shield match at Carisbrook

He played for Marist Brothers Old Boys RFC and Auckland domstically, winning 142 caps with the latter during an era when the side dominated the NPC and Ranfurly Shield.

Between 1985 and 1999 Auckland won 9 NPC titles, 5 Super 6 championships, and defended the Ranfurly Shield a record 61 consecutive times ( between 1985 and 1993 ), while the Blues won the first two Super 12 competitions in 1996 and 1997.

Spencer first rose to prominence when he starred alongside Christian Cullen in a Ranfurly Shield challenge in 1991, playing for the Horowhenua team against Auckland.

Canterbury have a proud Ranfurly Shield history.

One of their most memorable moments was when they successfully retained the Ranfurly Shield against Waikato in 1954 with a last minute try.

After 10 previous unsuccessful challenges for the Ranfurly Shield, most notably 1996 when they challenged for it three times in 6 weeks against Taranaki, Waikato and Auckland, North Harbour succeeded in their eleventh challenge for the shield on 24 September 2006 by beating the previous holders Canterbury 21-17 at Jade Stadium in Christchurch < ref name = HarbourCanterbury >

They also were the first South Island province to claim the coveted Ranfurly Shield trophy after defeating Wellington 17-6 in 1920.

The Stags then traveled to Eden Park to challenge Auckland for the Ranfurly Shield.

On Thursday 22 October 2009 the Stags challenged Canterbury at AMI Stadium, Christchurch for the Ranfurly Shield.

* Ranfurly Shield 1995, 1996

* Ranfurly Shield games: 24 games ( challenges / defenses )

* Ranfurly Shield points: 62 points

They also played the 1927 Charity Shield, losing to Cardiff City 2 – 1.

* Joseph Shield Nicholson ( 1850 – 1927 ), English economist

In 1927, the HKN Shield and coat-of-arms was adopted ( see right ).

* Visit the Shannon Estuary's resident dolphin population

* 1927: Visit by Duke and Duchess of York ( future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth )

In 1925 the works commenced after the passing of the Shannon Electricity Act, 1925 and by 1927 the project was at an advanced state.

The ESB was established by the fledgling Irish Free State government under the Electricity ( Supply ) Act, 1927 to manage Ireland's electricity supply after the successful Shannon Scheme at Ardnacrusha.

Close downstream of where Lough Derg empties into the Shannon are the falls of Doonass, the largest fall on the otherwise gently sloping river, with the nearby location of the world's then-largest hydroelectric power plant at Ardnacrusha in 1927.

William Vincent Shannon ( August 24, 1927 – September 27, 1988 < sup ></ sup >) was a member of the editorial board of the New York Times and U. S. ambassador to Ireland under President Jimmy Carter ( 1977-81 ).