Raeburn Shield

Raeburn Shield
Awarded forRugby Union Challenge Trophy
History
First award27 March 1871; 154 years, 103 days ago
First winnerScotland
Most recentEngland 8 February 2025; 150 days ago
Websiteraeburnandutrechtshields.com

The Raeburn Shield is a rugby union trophy based on a "Title Holder" concept - similar to a boxing world title or New Zealand’s Ranfurly Shield. Named after Raeburn Place, the site of the first-ever international rugby match between England and Scotland on 27 March 1871, the Shield adds a dynamic layer of competition to international rugby. A women's version of the trophy, the Utrecht Shield, follows the same format.

Why the Raeburn Shield Matters

The Raeburn Shield offers several unique advantages:

  • Opportunities for Underdogs: Since the title is contested in every match the holder plays, lower-ranked nations have a real chance to claim it. For instance, Romania once held the Shield despite never reaching the Rugby World Cup knockout stages.
  • Increased Match Intensity: Every title match carries extra weight. The defending team has something to protect, while challengers are highly motivated. This dynamic can elevate the intensity of otherwise routine fixtures. Consider how Munster still celebrates their 1978 victory over the All Blacks—despite later European successes.
  • Frequent Title Changes: Unlike the Rugby World Cup, which occurs every four years, the Raeburn Shield can change hands multiple times a year. During the 1999 World Cup alone, the title passed through six teams: Wales, Samoa, Scotland, New Zealand, France, and Australia. In the following year, it changed hands several more times, showcasing its fast-paced nature.

List of shield holders

Match Defender Score Challenger Date SD Tenure
1  England 0G–1G  Scotland 27 March 1871 – –
2  Scotland 1G–2G  England 5 February 1872 0 315d (10m9d)
3  England 0G–1G  Scotland 5 March 1877 4 1855d (5y1m0d)
4  Scotland 1G–2G  England 28 February 1880 2 1090d (2y11m23d)
5  England 0G–0G(2T)  Scotland 4 March 1882 1 735d (2y0m4d)
6  Scotland (1T)0G–0G(2T)  England 3 March 1883 0 364d (11m27d)
7  England 0G–2G  Ireland 5 February 1887 9 1435d (3y11m2d)
8  Ireland 0–2G  Scotland 19 February 1887 0 14d
9  Scotland 0–0G(1T)  Wales 4 February 1888 1 350 (11m16d)
10  Wales 0–2G  Ireland 3 March 1888 0 28d
11  Ireland 0–1G  Scotland 10 March 1888 0 7d
12  Scotland 0–6  England 1 March 1890 4 721d (1y11m19d)
13  England 3–9  Scotland 7 March 1891 3 371d (1y0m6d)
14  Scotland 0–5  England 5 March 1892 2 364d (11m27d)
15  England 11–12  Wales 7 January 1893 0 308d (10m2d)
16  Wales 3–24  England 6 January 1894 2 364 (11m30d)
17  England 5–7  Ireland 3 February 1894 0 28d
18  Ireland 3–6  England 2 February 1895 2 364 (11m30d)
19  England 3–6  Scotland 9 March 1895 0 35d (1m7d)
20  Scotland 0–6  Wales 25 January 1896 0 322d (10m16d)
21  Wales 4–8  Ireland 14 March 1896 0 49d (1m18d)
22  Ireland 3–8  Scotland 20 February 1897 1 343d (11m6d)
23  Scotland 3–12  England 13 March 1897 0 21d
24  England 6–9  Ireland 5 February 1898 0 329d (10m23d)
25  Ireland 0–8  Scotland 19 February 1898 0 14d
26  Scotland 3–9  Ireland 18 February 1899 1 364d (11m30d)
27  Ireland 4–15  England 3 February 1900 1 350d (11m16d)
28  England 0–13  Wales 5 January 1901 1 336 (11m2d)
29  Wales 8–18  Scotland 9 February 1901 0 35d (1m4d)
30  Scotland 5–14  Wales 1 February 1902 2 357d (11m23d)
31  Wales 0–6  Scotland 7 February 1903 2 371d (1y0m6d)
32  Scotland 3–21  Wales 6 February 1904 2 364d (11m30d)
33  Wales 12–14  Ireland 12 March 1904 0 35d (1m6d)
34  Ireland 3–10  Wales 11 March 1905 2 364d (11m27d)
35  Wales 6–11  Ireland 10 March 1906 3 364d (11m27d)
36  Ireland 12–15  South Africa 24 November 1906 0 259 (8m14d)
37  South Africa 5–13  New Zealand 13 August 1921 71 5376 (14y8m20d)2
38  New Zealand 5–9  South Africa 27 August 1921 0 14d
39  South Africa 6–7  New Zealand 21 July 1928 23 2520d (6y10m24d)
40  New Zealand 6–11  South Africa 18 August 1928 0 28d
41  South Africa 5–13  New Zealand 1 September 1928 0 14d
42  New Zealand 8–9  Australia 6 July 1929 0 308d (10m5d)
43  Australia 13–20  New Zealand 12 September 1931 24 798d (2y2m6d)
44  New Zealand 17–22  Australia 2 July 1932 0 294d (9m20d)
45  Australia 3–21  New Zealand 16 July 1932 0 14d
46  New Zealand 11–25  Australia 11 August 1934 1 756d (2y0m26d)
47  Australia 6–11  New Zealand 5 September 1936 1 756d (2y0m25d)
48  New Zealand 6–13  South Africa 4 September 1937 2 364 (11m30d)
49  South Africa 14–18  Australia 5 September 1953 115 5845d (16y0m1d)6
50  Australia 8–18  South Africa 19 September 1953 0 14d
51  South Africa 6–10  New Zealand 14 July 1956 37 1029d (2y9m25d)
52  New Zealand 3–8  South Africa 4 August 1956 0 21d
53  South Africa 10–17  New Zealand 18 August 1956 0 14d
54  New Zealand 3–6  Australia 6 September 1958 4 749d (2y0m19d)
55  Australia 8–17  New Zealand 20 September 1958 0 14d
56  New Zealand 0–13  South Africa 25 June 1960 08 644d (1y9m5d)
57  South Africa 3–11  New Zealand 23 July 1960 0 28d
58  New Zealand 3–8  South Africa 27 August 1960 1 35d (1m4d)
59  South Africa 5–9  Australia 10 August 1963 99 1078d (2y11m14d)
60  Australia 6–22  South Africa 7 September 1963 1 28d
61  South Africa 6–8  France 25 July 1964 1 322d (10m18d)
62  France 6–9  England 27 February 1965 4 217d (7m2d)
63  England 6–11  Wales 15 January 1966 1 312 (10m9d)
64  Wales 6–9  Ireland 12 March 1966 1 66d (2m7d)
65  Ireland 3–8  England 11 February 1967 1 336d (10m30d)
66  England 12–16  France 25 February 1967 0 14d
67  France 3–26  South Africa 15 July 1967 1 140d (4m20d)
68  South Africa 14–19  France 29 July 1967 1 14d
69  France 15–21  New Zealand 25 November 1967 1 119d (3m27d)
70  New Zealand 6–17  South Africa 25 July 1970 8 973d (2y8m0d)
71  South Africa 8–9  New Zealand 8 August 1970 0 14d
72  New Zealand 3–14  South Africa 29 August 1970 0 21d
73  South Africa 9–18  England 3 June 1972 6 644d (1y9m5d)
74  England 0–9  New Zealand 6 January 1973 0 217d (7m3d)
75  New Zealand 6–13  France 10 February 1973 1 35d (1m4d)
76  France 6–14  England 24 February 1973 0 14d
77  England 14–16  Scotland 2 February 1974 3 343d (11m9d)
78  Scotland 6–9  Ireland 2 March 1974 0 28d (1m0d)
79  Ireland 6–15  New Zealand 23 November 1974 010 266d (8m21d)
80  New Zealand 7–16  South Africa 24 July 1976 2 609d(1y8m1d)
81  South Africa 9–15  New Zealand 14 August 1976 0 21d
82  New Zealand 10–15  South Africa 4 September 1976 0 21d
83  South Africa 9–14  New Zealand 15 August 1981 311 1806 (4y11m11d)
84  New Zealand 12–24  South Africa 29 August 1981 0 14d
85  South Africa 22–25  New Zealand 12 September 1981 0 14d
86  New Zealand 16–19  Australia 28 August 1982 4 350d (11m16d)
87  Australia 18–33  New Zealand 11 September 1982 0 14d
88  New Zealand 9–15  England 19 November 1983 212 434d (1y2m8d)
89  England 6–18  Scotland 4 February 1984 0 77d (2m16d)
90  Scotland 22–28  Romania 20 May 1984 2 106 (3m16d)
91  Romania 3–18  France 10 November 1984 0 174d (5m21d)
92  France 16–24  Argentina 22 June 1985 813 224d (7m12d)
93  Argentina 15–23  France 29 June 1985 0 7d
94  France 17–18  Scotland 19 January 1986 4 204d (6m21d)
95  Scotland 15–22  Wales 2 February 1986 0 14d
96  Wales 15–23  France 2 March 1986 1 28d (1m0d)
97  France 13–15  Argentina 31 May 1986 4 62d (2m1d)
98  Argentina 9–22  France 7 June 1986 0 35d (1m4d)
99  France 14–27  Australia 21 June 1986 0 14d
100  Australia 12–13  New Zealand 23 August 1986 3 63d (2m2d)
101  New Zealand 9–22  Australia 6 September 1986 0 14d
102  Australia 24–30  France 13 June 1987 5 280d (9m7d)
103  France 9–29  New Zealand 20 June 1987 0 7d
104  New Zealand 9–21  Australia 18 August 1990 17 1155d (3y1m29d)
105  Australia 3–6  New Zealand 24 August 1991 3 371d (1y0m6d)
106  New Zealand 6–16  Australia 27 October 1991 4 64d (2m3d)
107  Australia 23–26  New Zealand 25 July 1992 5 272d (8m28d)
108  New Zealand 9–15  England 27 November 1993 414 490d (1y4m2d)
109  England 12–13  Ireland 19 February 1994 1 84d (2m23d)
110  Ireland 13–33  Australia 5 June 1994 1 106d (3m17d)
111  Australia 18–27  South Africa 25 May 1995 7 354d (11m20d)
112  South Africa 16–21  Australia 13 July 1996 9 415d (1y1m18d)
113  Australia 25–32  New Zealand 27 July 1996 0 14d
114  New Zealand 22–32  South Africa 31 August 1996 3 35d (1m4d)
115  South Africa 32–35  New Zealand 19 July 1997 615 322d (10m19d)
116  New Zealand 16–24  Australia 11 July 1998 9 357d (11m22d)
117  Australia 13–14  South Africa 18 July 1998 0 7d
118  South Africa 7–13  England 5 December 1998 6 140d (4m17d)
119  England 31–32  Wales 11 April 1999 3 127d (4m6d)
120  Wales 31–38  Samoa 14 October 1999 7 186d (6m3d)
121  Samoa 20–35  Scotland 20 October 1999 0 6d
122  Scotland 18–30  New Zealand 24 October 1999 0 4d
123  New Zealand 31–43  France 31 October 1999 0 7d
124  France 12–35  Australia 6 November 1999 0 6d
125  Australia 35–39  New Zealand 15 July 2000 3 252d (8m9d)
126  New Zealand 23–24  Australia 5 August 2000 1 21d
127  Australia 19–22  England 18 November 2000 3 105d (3m13d)
128  England 14–20  Ireland 20 October 2001 9 336d (11m2d)
129  Ireland 29–40  New Zealand 17 November 2001 1 28d
130  New Zealand 14–16  Australia 3 August 2002 8 259d (8m17d)
131  Australia 31–33  South Africa 17 August 2002 0 14d
132  South Africa 10–30  France 9 November 2002 0 84d (2m23d)
133  France 17–25  England 15 February 2003 2 98d (3m6d)
134  England 16–17  France 30 August 2003 7 196d (6m15d)
135  France 14–45  England 6 September 2003 0 7d
136  England 13–19  Ireland 6 March 2004 9 182d (6m0d)
137  Ireland 17–31  South Africa 12 June 2004 2 98d (3m6d)
138  South Africa 21–23  New Zealand 24 July 2004 216 42d (1m12d)
139  New Zealand 18–23  Australia 7 August 2004 0 14d
140  Australia 19–23  South Africa 21 August 2004 0 14d
141  South Africa 12–17  Ireland 13 November 2004 1 84d (2m23d)
142  Ireland 19–26  France 12 March 2005 5 119d (3m27d)
143  France 13–27  South Africa 25 June 2005 2 105d (3m13d)
144  South Africa 12–30  Australia 9 July 2005 0 14d
145  Australia 20–33  South Africa 23 July 2005 0 14d
146  South Africa 12–30  New Zealand 27 August 2005 2 35d (1m4d)
147  New Zealand 20–21  South Africa 2 September 2006 13 371d (1y0m6d)
148  South Africa 15–32  Ireland 11 November 2006 1 70d (2m9d)
149  Ireland 17–20  France 11 February 2007 3 92d (3m0d)
150  France 18–26  England 11 March 2007 1 28d (1m0d)
151  England 18–27  Wales 17 March 2007 0 6d
152  Wales 23–29  Australia 26 May 2007 0 70d (2m9d)
153  Australia 19–22  South Africa 16 June 2007 2 21d
154  South Africa 21–26  New Zealand 23 June 2007 0 7d
155  New Zealand 15–20  Australia 30 June 2007 0 7d
156  Australia 12–26  New Zealand 21 July 2007 1 21d
157  New Zealand 18–20  France 6 October 2007 4 77d (2m15d)
158  France 9–14  England 13 October 2007 0 7d
159  England 6–15  South Africa 20 October 2007 0 7d
160  South Africa 8–19  New Zealand 5 July 2008 4 259d (8m15d)
161  New Zealand 28–30  South Africa 12 July 2008 0 7d
162  South Africa 9–16  Australia 19 July 2008 0 7d
163  Australia 10–39  New Zealand 2 August 2008 1 14d
164  New Zealand 22–27  France 13 June 2009 8 315d (10m11d)
165  France 10–14  New Zealand 20 June 2009 0 7d
166  New Zealand 19–28  South Africa 25 July 2009 2 35d (1m5d)
167  South Africa 6–21  Australia 12 September 2009 3 49d (1m18d)
168  Australia 6–33  New Zealand 19 September 2009 0 7d
169  New Zealand 24–26  Australia 30 October 2010 14 406d (1y1m11d)
170  Australia 18–35  England 13 November 2010 1 14d
171  England 11–21  South Africa 27 November 2010 1 14d
172  South Africa 20–39  Australia 27 July 2011 0 242d (8m0d)
173  Australia 14–30  New Zealand 6 August 2011 0 10d
174  New Zealand 5–18  South Africa 20 August 2011 0 14d
175  South Africa 9–11  Australia 9 October 2011 4 50d (1m19d)
176  Australia 6–20  New Zealand 16 October 2011 0 7d
177  New Zealand 21–38  England 1 December 2012 14 412d (1y1m14d)
178  England 3–30  Wales 16 March 2013 4 95d (3m5d)
179  Wales 8–23  Japan 8 June 2013 1 94d (3m2d)
180  Japan 6–54  New Zealand 2 November 2013 2 147d (4m25d)
181  New Zealand 25–27  South Africa 4 October 2014 11 336d (11m2d)
182  South Africa 15–29  Ireland 8 December 2014 1 64d (2m4d)
183  Ireland 16–23  Wales 14 March 2015 5 96d (3m6d)
184  Wales 21–35  Ireland 8 August 2015 1 147d (4m25d)
185  Ireland 10–16  Wales 29 August 2015 1 21d
186  Wales 6–15  Australia 10 October 2015 4 42d (1m11d)
187  Australia 17–34  New Zealand 31 October 2015 2 21d
188  New Zealand 29–40  Ireland 5 November 2016 10 371d (1y0m5d)
189  Ireland 9–21  New Zealand 19 November 2016 1 14d
190  New Zealand 18–23  Australia 21 October 2017 817 336d (11m2d)
191  Australia 6–30  England 18 November 2017 2 28d
192  England 13–25  Scotland 24 February 2018 3 98d (3m6d)
193  Scotland 8–28  Ireland 10 March 2018 0 14d
194  Ireland 8–19  Australia 9 June 2018 1 91d (2m30d)
195  Australia 21–26  Ireland 16 June 2018 0 7d
196  Ireland 20–32  England 2 February 2019 5 231d (7m17d)
197  England 13–21  Wales 23 February 2019 1 21d
198  Wales 19–33  England 12 August 2019 2 170d (5m20d)
199  England 6–13  Wales 17 August 2019 0 5d
200  Wales 17–22  Ireland 31 August 2019 0 14d
201  Ireland 12–19  Japan 28 September 2019 2 28d
202  Japan 3–26  South Africa 20 October 2019 2 22d
203  South Africa 26–28  Australia 12 September 2021 5 693d (1y10m23d)18
204  Australia 13–15  Scotland 7 November 2021 4 56d (1m26d)
205  Scotland 15–30  South Africa 13 November 2021 0 6d
206  South Africa 26–27  England 20 November 2021 0 7d
207  England 17–20  Scotland 5 February 2022 0 76d (2m16d)
208  Scotland 17–20  Wales 12 February 2022 0 7d
209  Wales 19–23  England 26 February 2022 0 14d
210  England 15–32  Ireland 12 March 2022 0 14d
211  Ireland 19–42  New Zealand 2 July 2022 1 112d (3m20d)
212  New Zealand 12–23  Ireland 9 July 2022 0 7d
213  Ireland 24–28  New Zealand 14 October 2023 16 462d (1y3m5d)
214  New Zealand 11–12  South Africa 28 October 2023 1 14d
215  South Africa 24–25  Ireland 13 July 2024 2 259d (8m15d)
216  Ireland 13–23  New Zealand 8 November 2024 0 118d (3m26d)
217  New Zealand 29–30  France 16 November 2024 0 8d
218  France 25–26  England 8 February 2025 2 84d (2m23)
219  England 3 150d

Most shield defences

Most shield defences by each team
Team Total Chal. Cons.
1  New Zealand 155 41 17
2  South Africa 87 33 11
3  England 62 28 9
4  Ireland 50 23 16
5  Australia 46 30 7
6  France 27 16 8
7  Wales 24 17 7
8  Scotland 16 18 4
9  Japan 4 2 2
10  Argentina 0 2 0
11  Romania 0 1 0
12  Samoa 0 1 0
Highest consecutive shield defences
No. Team Start Def. Score End Score Chal. Tenure
17  New Zealand 20 June 1987  France 9–29 18 August 1990 9–21  Australia 1155d (3y1m29d)
16  Ireland 9 July 2022  New Zealand 12–23 14 October 2023 24–28  New Zealand 462d (1y3m6d)
14  New Zealand 19 September 2009  Australia 6–33 30 October 2010 24–26  Australia 406d (1y1m11d)
 New Zealand 16 October 2011  Australia 6–20 1 December 2012 21–38  England 412d (1y1m14d)
13  New Zealand 27 August 2005  South Africa 12–30 2 September 2006 20–21  South Africa 371d (1y0m6d)
11  South Africa 4 September 1937  New Zealand 6–13 5 September 1953 14–18  Australia 5845d (16y0m1d)6
 New Zealand 2 November 2013  Japan 6–54 4 October 2014 25–27  South Africa 336d (11m2d)
10  New Zealand 31 October 2015  Australia 17–34 5 November 2016 29–40  Ireland 371d (1y0m5d)
9  England 3 March 1883  Scotland 1T–2T 5 February 1887 0G–2G  Ireland 1435d (3y11m2d)
 South Africa 27 August 1960  New Zealand 3–8 10 August 1963 5–9  Australia 1078d (2y11m14d)
 South Africa 25 May 1995  Australia 18–27 13 July 1996 16–21  Australia 415d (1y1m18d)
 New Zealand 9 July 1997  South Africa 32–35 11 July 1998 16–24  Australia 357d (11m22d)
 England 18 November 2000  Australia 19–22 20 October 2001 14–20  Ireland 336d (11m2d)
 England 6 September 2003  France 14–45 6 March 2004 13–19  Ireland 182d (6m0d)

See also

Notes

References

  • ESPN Scrum article on the Raeburn Shield [1]
  • Raeburn Shield web site [2]


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