The Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union (MCRFU) is a rugby province in the South Island of New Zealand.

History

The Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union was formed in 1904 as Ashburton Country, first as a sub-union of the South Canterbury Rugby Football Union and then of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union. The union gained full status in 1927, and changed its name to Mid Canterbury in 1952.

Clubs Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union is made up of 9 clubs: Allenton Celtic Collegiate Hampstead Methven Mount Somers Rakaia Southern Tinwald

Senior Club champions

The Senior Club Champions in recent years were: 2022 - Methven 45-18 Southern 2023 - Celtic 30-22 Methven 2024 - Southern 25-21 Methven 2025 - Celtic 24-23 Southern

Provincial representative rugby

The Mid Canterbury team play from Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton.

National Provincial Championship (NPC)

In the NPC Mid Canterbury won:

the 2nd division South Island in 1980 and 1983 the 3rd division in 1994 and 1998.

Heartland Championship

In the Heartland Championship which commenced in 2006 Mid Canterbury have won:

the Meads Cup in 2013, 2014 and 2025 the Lochore Cup in 2017.

Heartland Championship ResultsYear Place Playoffs 20068 4 0 4 155 178 −22 3 19 4th Meads Cup Lost 17–30 to Wanganui — 20078 6 0 2 213 151 +62 4 28 2nd Meads Cup Lost 0–18 to Wanganui — 20088 7 0 1 225 129 +96 5 33 2nd Meads Cup Won 38–24 against North Otago Lost 12–27 to Wanganui 20098 7 0 1 196 133 +63 2 30 1st Meads Cup Won 19–17 against South Canterbury Lost 13–34 to Wanganui 20106 5 0 1 179 94 +85 5 25 2nd Meads Cup Lost 24–40 to North Otago — 20118 6 0 2 180 143 +37 6 26 4th Meads Cup Lost 22–32 to Wanganui — 20128 3 0 5 158 162 −4 5 17 7th Lochore Cup Lost 20–48 to South Canterbury — 20138 7 0 1 232 131 +101 5 33 1st Meads Cup Won 28–25 against West Coast Won 26–20 against North Otago 20148 5 1 2 258 139 +119 4 26 3rd Meads Cup Won 29–22 against Poverty Bay Won 36–13 against Buller 20158 7 0 1 295 228 +67 6 34 2nd Meads Cup Lost 11–26 to Wanganui — 20168 5 0 3 278 198 +80 7 27 5th Lochore Cup Lost 24–36 to North Otago — 20178 5 0 3 275 224 +51 3 26 1st Lochore Cup Won 56–22 against Poverty Bay Won 47–15 against West Coast 20188 3 0 5 225 233 −8 7 19 8th Lochore Cup Lost 24–34 to Horowhitu-Kapiti — 20198 1 1 6 161 236 −75 4 10 11th No — 20218 5 0 3 226 209 +17 4 24 6th No — 20228 3 0 5 214 249 −35 6 18 8th Lochore Cup Won 31–15 against North Otago Lost 20–25 to Ngati Porou East Coast 20238 2 0 6 221 245 −24 8 16 9th No — 20248 6 0 2 297 215 +82 6 30 4th Meads Cup Won 17–16 against South Canterbury Lost 29–37 to Thames Valley 20258 8 0 0 368 186 +1821 0 40 1st Meads Cup Won 21-19 against Wairarapa Bush Won 21-18 against Thames Valley

There was no Heartland Championship in 2020 due to Covid 19 restrictions.

Hanan Shield The Hanan Shield is one of the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1946, the Hanan Shield is based on a challenge system played between North Otago, South Canterbury and Mid Canterbury.

Ranfurly Shield Mid Canterbury have never held the Ranfurly Shield. Unsuccessful challenges include:

All Blacks There have been 3 players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing their club rugby in Mid Canterbury.

Denis Cameron: All Black number 614, who played 8 games as a wing on the 1960 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia and South Africa. Grant Perry: All Black number 813, who played 1 game as a hooker on the 1980 tour to Fiji. Jock Ross: All Black number 830 who played 5 games as a lock on the 1981 tour to France and Romania

Super Rugby Mid Canterbury along with Canterbury, Tasman, Buller, South Canterbury and West Coast make up the Crusaders Super Rugby franchise.

References

External links Official Site