Home / Northern AdvocateDenise Piper, Brodie Stone, Mike DinsdaleNorthern Advocate·21 Aug, 2026 05:00 AM5 mins to read‌Northlanders of all ages packed into Whangārei Airport to welcome home the Northland team, who ended a 48-year Ranfurly Shield drought on Thursday.Forty-eight years of shattered dreams and heartache are over: for the first time since 1978, Northland are holders of the famous Ranfurly Shield, the Log o’ Wood, that legendary symbol of New Zealand rugby folklore.

And what a way to bring the shield north, with a compelling 36-12 victory over

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