MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday 26 February 2019

Yarrows Taranaki has a chance to win back the coveted Ranfurly Shield when they play Otago in week five of the Mitre 10 Cup, it was announced today. 

The challenge will be played on Sunday 8 September in Dunedin and will be the first Ranfurly Shield match for Taranaki since losing it to Waikato 33-19 last season.

It will be a nervous wait for Taranaki fans as Otago host Southland and Manawatu prior to Taranaki’s visit.

Throughout the season, Taranaki will play 10 matches including five home games at Yarrow Stadium during the regular season.

Southland and Northland will open the 2019 competition on Thursday 8 August in Invercargill. New Zealand Rugby has gone away with the ‘storm week’, which saw teams play three matches in eight days.

Taranaki will be playing away from home for the first two weeks of the competition with their opening clash against Counties Manukau in Pukekohe on Saturday 10 August at 5:05pm in cross-over action. Taranaki travel south to play Manawatu on the following Saturday in the Championship division.

Taranaki will want revenge against Northland, as the Taniwha pipped Taranaki in last year’s competition, at home on Sunday 25 August at 2:05pm. Northland last played in New Plymouth during the 2010 competition. Taranaki then host rivals Tasman a week later on Sunday 1 September in a cross-over match before heading south to Dunedin the following weekend.

Bay of Plenty could potentially be Taranaki’s first Ranfurly Shield challenge of the year at Yarrow Stadium on Saturday 14 September at 2:35pm, before traveling to Hawkes Bay on Friday 20 September.

Southland will head north to New Plymouth on the opening game of week eight on Thursday 26 September, before Taranaki travel to Waikato for another cross-over match on Sunday 6 October.

Taranaki’s final match of the year will be played on Friday 11 October at home against Mitre 10 Cup defending champions Auckland, who Taranaki nearly beat last season.

Taranaki Bulls Head Coach Willie Rickards is happy with the 2019 draw which includes some key home games.  

“The local players have started training already and we are looking forward to playing back at Yarrow Stadium. Our fans are important and provide great support that really lifts the team, their support will be huge this year”.

While being relegated to the Championship division of the Mitre 10 Cup, Rickards is confident Taranaki can have an improved season.

“We had a lot of learnings from last year and we are willing to make those key changes this season. Our focus this year is to put in performances that our community are proud of”, he said.

Taranaki Rugby Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Parkinson said the union was looking forward to a great season and is relying on local fans to support rugby in the province.

“It’s going to be the same situation as last year, but we still have capacity for 14,000 fans and we are calling on them to support the Bulls”, he said. 

Taranaki Rugby are working on sideline offering for season members following adverse feedback after watching from the ends in 2018. 

Taranaki will also play three pre-season matches against Auckland, Waikato and Manawatu.

Taranaki Rugby will announce their forwards coach in the coming weeks due to the departure of Paul Tito who departed to French club Pau.

Season memberships will be available in due course and we look forward to welcoming you all to Yarrow Stadium in 2019.

Yarrows Taranaki 2019 Mitre 10 Cup Draw:

* cross-over matches

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact;

Media Related Enquires:
Will Johnston
TRFU Media Manager
027 348 3831
will@trfu.co.nz

Membership Enquiries:
Kris Robinson
TRFU Commercial Manager
kris@trfu.co.nz
021 244 3789

Article added: Tuesday 26 February 2019