Meads Cup

Summary

The Meads Cup is a rugby union trophy named after King Country and All Blacks player Colin Meads. It is contested during the Heartland Championship. It was first awarded in 2006, when the Heartland Championship format was introduced.

Competition edit

Regular season edit

At present, all 12 Heartland Championship teams play 8 games over 8 weeks before the finals. Once finished, the top 4 advance to the Meads Cup finals. The teams ranked 5-8 play for the Lochore Cup. Previously, a pool system was used between 2006 and 2010.

Finals edit

The Meads Cup winner is determined in four-team single-elimination tournament. The semi-final matchups are seeded 1-4 and 2–3, with the higher seed receiving home field advantage. The highest remaining seed hosts the Meads Cup final.

Winners edit

Year Meads Cup Winner Final score Runner Up
2006   Wairarapa Bush 16-14 Wanganui
2007   North Otago 25-8 Wanganui
2008   Wanganui 27-12 Mid Canterbury
2009   Wanganui 34-13 Mid Canterbury
2010   North Otago 39-18 Wanganui
2011   Wanganui 30-10 East Coast
2012   East Coast 29-27 Wanganui
2013   Mid Canterbury 26-20 North Otago
2014   Mid Canterbury 36-13 Buller
2015   Wanganui 28-11 South Canterbury
2016   Wanganui 20-18 Buller
2017   Wanganui 30-14 Horowhenua-Kapiti
2018   Thames Valley 17-12 South Canterbury
2019   North Otago 33-19 Wanganui
2020 No competition held due to COVID-19
2021   South Canterbury 35-16 Thames Valley
2022   South Canterbury[1][2] 47-36 Wanganui
2023 [3]   South Canterbury 40-30 Wanganui

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Meads Cup and Lochore Cup finals: Team Lists".
  2. ^ "Whanganui fall short in Meads Cup final to South Canterbury".
  3. ^ "South Canterbury make it a three-peat in the Meads Cup". allblacks.com. 14 October 2023.