Meads Cup

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

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Regular season

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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

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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

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Year Winner 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 Whanganui 28–11 South Canterbury
2016 Whanganui 20–18 Buller
2017 Whanganui 30–14 Horowhenua-Kapiti
2018 Thames Valley 17–12 South Canterbury
2019 North Otago 33–19 Whanganui
2021 South Canterbury 35–16 Thames Valley
2022[1][2] South Canterbury 47–36 Whanganui
2023[3] South Canterbury 40–30 Whanganui
2024[4] Thames Valley 37–29 Mid Canterbury

In 2020 no competition was held due to COVID-19.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Meads Cup and Lochore Cup finals: Team Lists". 22 October 2022.
  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.
  4. ^ "The Waikato Times". www.waikatotimes.co.nz.
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