Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy

The Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy is a rugby union challenge trophy contested between the Auckland-based Blues and Dunedin-based Highlanders in the Super Rugby. The trophy is awarded in memory of Gordon Hunter, who had been head coach of both teams prior to his death in 2002.[1] Hunter was the head coach in the Highlanders' inaugural Super 12 season.[2]

History

Hunter was held in high regard and in 2020, Highlanders' coach Aaron Mauger noted that he gave players the courage to "really back themselves", while co-captain at the time, Aaron Smith said he was motivated by the trophy and "we would like nothing more to keep the Gordy Hunter at home".[3] One commentator said that while Hunter "may have been a Southlander by birth... he was an Otago man at heart".[4]

The trophy was first played for in 2002 with the Highlanders winning 20–13.[5] Prior to 2011, the trophy was contested every time the two teams met, but with the introduction of the conference system meaning there are two meetings per regular season, the decision was made that the trophy would only be contested in matches hosted by the holders.[6] While the Blues scored non-trophy-match wins over the Highlanders in the 2013 and 2014 seasons, the Highlanders won both home and away in 2015 on their way to lifting the Super Rugby title. As of 2023, the Blues currently hold the trophy, since earning it in 2020's Super Rugby Aotearoa,[7] and defeating the Highlanders 16–9.[8]

Past winners

The following table summarises the results between the two sides since the trophy was first contested in 2002. 2016 was the first season in which the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy could not be contested due to the Blues only playing the Highlanders once – not in the host city of the current holders.

  • (Brackets) denotes total matches the cup was held.
No. Season Date Venue Score Winner Ref.
Annual trophy (2002–2010)
1 2002 3 May Eden Park, Auckland 13–20 Highlanders (1) [5]
2 2003 4 April Carisbrook, Dunedin 22–11 Highlanders (2) [9]
3 2004 8 May Eden Park, Auckland 50–22 Blues (1)
4 2005 25 February Carisbrook, Dunedin 14–30 Blues (2) [10]
5 2006 17 February Carisbrook, Dunedin 25–13 Highlanders (3)
6 2007 2 March Eden Park, Auckland 28–9 Blues (3)
7 2008 10 May Carisbrook, Dunedin 15–40 Blues (4)
8 2009 17 April Eden Park, Auckland 26–6 Blues (5)
9 2010 19 February Carisbrook, Dunedin 15–19 Blues (6)
Challenge trophy (since 2011)[6]
10 2011 29 April Carisbrook, Dunedin 10–15 Blues (7)
11 17 June Eden Park, Auckland 33–16 Blues (8)
12 2012 26 May Eden Park, Auckland 20–27 Highlanders (4)
13 2013 1 June Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 38–28 Highlanders (5)
14 2014 22 February Forstyh Barr Stadium, Dunedin 29–21 Highlanders (6)
15 2015 18 April Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 30–24 Highlanders (7)
16 2017 8 April Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 26–20 Highlanders (8) [11]
17 2018 23 February Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 41–34 Highlanders (9)
18 2019 20 April Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 24–12 Highlanders (10)
N/a 2020 2 May Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Cancelled
19 2020 (NZ) 2 August Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 21–32 Blues (9) [7]
20 2021 (NZ) 14 March Eden Park, Auckland 39–17 Blues (10)
21 2022 11 March North Harbour Stadium, Albany 32–20 Blues (11) [12]
22 2023 2 June Eden Park, Auckland 16–9 Blues (12) [8]
23 2024 18 May Eden Park, Auckland 47–13 Blues (13)
24 2026 17 April Eden Park, Auckland 47–40 Blues (14) [13]

References

  1. ^ Edwards, Brent (2002). "Highlanders devastated by loss Gordon Hunter Renowned rugby coach dies". Otago Rugby Football Union News. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Supermen of Super 12". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 25 May 1996. p. 52 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Hepburn, Steve (1 August 2020). "Highlanders moved by Hunter's legacy". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 25 December 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  4. ^ Stevenson, Scotty (6 April 2017). "Why the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy is a special piece of New Zealand rugby silverware". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b "What you didn't know about the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy". Ultimate Rugby. 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 25 December 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b Hepburn, Steve (7 April 2017). "Landers to defend trophy". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  7. ^ a b Chapman, Grant (2 August 2020). "Live updates: Super Rugby Aotearoa – Highlanders v Blues". Newshub. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Match Blues vs Highlanders". All.rugby. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ "Rugby: Highlanders beat the Blues 22–11". NZ Herald. 4 April 2003. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Blues knock over Highlanders". ABC News. 25 February 2005. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  11. ^ Manson, Dianne (9 April 2017). "Highlanders retain Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy in Dunedin thriller". Stuff. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  12. ^ Churches, Marc (11 March 2022). "Blues come from behind to defeat Highlanders and retain Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy". 9 Wide World of Sports. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  13. ^ Pearson, Joseph (17 April 2026). "Anton Segner stars as Blues survive mad finish to beat Highlanders at Eden Park". Stuff. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
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