Jimmy Tupou is the last Steeler to win the Shield ahead of Ranfurly challenge

Counties Manukau captain Jimmy Tupou, 34, is the only player “hobbling around” from the Steelers’ first and last reign with the Ranfurly Shield more than a decade ago.

On September 7, 2013, at McLean Park in Napier, Counties beat Hawke’s Bay 27-24. Tupou started at lock with Ronald Raaymakers.

It was the Steelers’ first successful challenge after 24 failures between 1958 and 2013. In 15 days, four unions—Waikato, Otago, Hawke’s Bay, and Counties-Manukau—held the Log o’ Wood, with Counties’ victory the most surprising.

The Steelers lost earlier games to Wellington (16-55), Tasman (20-40), and Auckland (20-22) before they lowered the Magpies’ colours.

Counties Manukau then repelled challenges from Taranaki (44-7), Waikato (37-25), Southland (25-7), Thames Valley (68-0), Mid Canterbury (46-10), and Otago (29-25). Hawke’s Bay exacted revenge on August 30, 2014, winning 27-21 with flanker Brendan O’Connor scoring two tries.

Fast forward to 2026 and the Steelers are rank outsiders to beat holders Northland in Whangarei on Saturday.

Northland is sitting pretty at the top of the table with a 6-2 record, having resisted Shield challenges from Tasman (20-10) and Waikato (34-17) following their stunning 36-12 upset of Canterbury in Christchurch on August 20.

By contrast, Counties are 13th and were spanked 50-21 by Otago last Friday night. Their only two victories this season came against an abysmal Wellington 46-35, their first triumph in the capital since 2010, and a week later against 12th-placed Southland 47-24 at home.

Still, Tupou believes Counties can turn back the clock.

“The Shield is a one-off game. It requires quicker efforts to get back up off the ground, more intensity, accuracy and risk,” Tupou told RugbyPass.

“In 2013, we had no momentum before that Hawke’s Bay game, but the carrot of the Ranfurly Shield lifted the boys.

“It hasn’t been a great year for us. Northland don’t have many chinks in their armour. They play for each other, are accurate at set pieces, and defensively strong.

“Our best rugby can be very good. We’ve got the ability to go off script and really unsettle teams with our flair. If we can reduce mistakes and play with freedom, we have to believe.”

That combination of fearlessness and self-belief helped Counties win the Shield in 2013. Tupou remembers the joy of the airport reception, the extra community activities that brought supporters together, and each defence getting harder.

“It’s easy to get up for the first defence, but after that it gets harder. There’s definitely an expectation that you win, and it’s tough because everyone is coming for you,” Tupou said.

“It’s awesome that a smaller Union like Northland has had the Shield. It really galvanises the community. That’s the special thing about the NPC. We can’t afford to lose that. The other thing about Shield rugby is that the games are bigger. It can be a great launchpad for the future.”

Counties captain in 2013 was Samoan international Fritz Lee in his last season for the Steelers, for whom he played 63 games. He went on to become a double centurion at Clermont, winning the Top 14 in 2017.

Against Hawke’s Bay, Sikeli Nabou scored the winning try. He played 62 games for Counties and was capped by Fiji. Tupou scored a try in the first defence of the Shield against Taranaki in 2013. He has played 83 games for Counties, representing the Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Moana Pasifika, Urayasu D-Rocks (Japan) and Tonga.

Sherwin Stormers (All Blacks Sevens), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Augustine Pulu (All Blacks/Tonga), Ray Lee-Lo (Samoa), Hika Elliot (All Blacks), Ahsee Tuala (Samoa), Ma’ama Vaipulu (Tonga), Frank Halai (All Blacks), Sam Aiono (Samoa), Suliasi Taufalele (Tonga), Ki Anufe (Samoa), Sam Vaka (Tonga), Simon Lemalu (Samoa) and Jordan Taufua (Samoa) all played international rugby.

ACT Brumbies centurion Andy Muirhead featured in 2014, as did Mark Selwyn, who played 46 games for Counties. In 2023, he coached the Sacred Heart College First XV to their first Auckland 1A title since 1965. Head coach Tana Umaga (26 wins in 46 games) is now with the All Blacks. Counties even boosted a Rugby World Cup winner.

In 2015, replacement prop Pauliasi Manu spent just three days as an All Black but walked away with a Rugby World Cup winner’s medal following the 34-17 win over the Wallabies in the final.

Manu flew to London as standby cover after Wyatt Crockett was forced to withdraw from the squad with a groin injury suffered in New Zealand’s 62-13 quarterfinal crushing of France on October 17.

The uncapped 27-year-old joined the squad in case there were any further late injuries and was only confirmed as an official All Blacks squad member early on October 29, just hours before New Zealand announced their 23-man squad for the Twickenham final on October 31.

Despite not seeing any game time and taking part in only a couple of training sessions, the Chiefs front-rower was rightly awarded a World Cup winner’s medal along with the rest of the squad.

“The Shield always comes up when I see or talk with these boys. The memories are amazing and it’s been the launch pad to great things. That’s the opportunity we have on Saturday,” Tupou said.

Where can Counties hurt Northland?

Believe it or not, Counties’ lineout is statistically more accurate than Northland’s. Gibson Popoali’i is among the more damaging midfield backs in the NPC. Much of Counties’ attack will be built around him and All Blacks Sevens winger Sione Molia. Openside Adam Brash is the fourth-best tackler in the NPC. Counties have occasionally unsettled teams at the breakdown this season.

Counties have won seven of their 35 Ranfurly Shield matches, but none of those involved Northland. In 1979 Counties won their only NPC championship with a 14-2 season record. They lost 11-9 in a Ranfurly Shield challenge to Auckland in front of 50,000 fans at Eden Park.

In 1981 they were held to a 20-20 draw by Waikato in Hamilton. In 1982 they drew 15-15 with Canterbury in Christchurch. In a tryless tussle, Maori All Blacks fullback Warren McLean (109 matches, 480 points, 72 wins) kicked 12 of 15 points, but three penalties from All Blacks fullback Robbie Deans and two drop goals from Sir
Wayne Smith denied the Steelers. Canterbury would defend the Shield 25 times between 1982 and 1985.

Tragically, in 2004 Counties was one of the few Unions to concede a century in a Ranfurly Shield match when they lost 100-15 to Auckland at Eden Park.

Counties’ last challenge for the Shield was a 56-25 loss to Wellington in 2023. Future All Blacks Ruben Love (2) and Billy Proctor scored three of the Lions’ seven tries.
The Ranfurly Shield match between Counties and Northland kicks off on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 2:05 PM (local time) at Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei.