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
Regular season 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 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 YearWinnerScoreRunner-up2006Wairarapa Bush16–14Wanganui2007North Otago25–8Wanganui2008Wanganui27–12Mid Canterbury2009Wanganui34–13Mid Canterbury2010North Otago39–18Wanganui2011Wanganui30–10East Coast2012East Coast29–27Wanganui2013Mid Canterbury26–20North Otago2014Mid Canterbury36–13Buller2015Whanganui28–11South Canterbury2016Whanganui20–18Buller2017Whanganui30–14Horowhenua-Kapiti2018Thames Valley17–12South Canterbury2019North Otago33–19Whanganui2021South Canterbury35–16Thames Valley2022South Canterbury47–36Whanganui2023South Canterbury40–30Whanganui2024Thames Valley37–29Mid Canterbury2025 Mid Canterbury21-18 Thames Valley
In 2020 no competition was held due to COVID-19.
See also Hanan Shield competed for by Mid Canterbury, North Otago and South Canterbury Heartland Championship Lochore Cup National Provincial Championship (1976–2005) National Provincial Championship (2006–present) New Zealand Heartland XV Rundle Cup played between Buller and West Coast
References