Introducing: The Raeburn Shield
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An international challenge trophy put up by the current holders, in every match, they play home or away.
Men’s international rugby was first played in 1871 at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh when Scotland beat England.
The Raeburn Shield celebrates the birth of our game by tracing a line of winners from that day with Scotland becoming the first holder.
Since then the shield would have changed hands over 200 times with 12 different nations having held it.
Whichever team holds the Raeburn Shield can legitimately claim to be the lineal champion from the start of international rugby.
At this stage the shield is building recognition globally alongside its sister shield in the women’s game with rugby fans and is not recognised by World Rugby but it has a great deal to offer:
A travelling trophy which is highly unpredictable and creates tense match-ups especially when it has been some time between challenges for a team.
The only prize outside of the RWC that can be won by all nations and is in circulation during the 4-year cycle
It has been held by every Rugby World Cup winner so far meaning it becomes a defacto RWC honour title which travels after the cup win.
Tier 2 nations can step up and take a world title in one-off matches (Romania would have held the shield in 1985)
No additional fixtures required as it operates within existing matches
A real basis in the history of the game tracing genuine match results.
There is no big corporate or team behind the Raeburn Shield it is just currently one man on a mission to improve rugby for the fans and he needs your help to do it.
Support and share the social media accounts and talk about the shield to those you know. The intention is for fans and players to recognise, enjoy and celebrate the Raeburn Shield and it’s sister the Utrecht Shield.
If we can build that following World Rugby will follow.
Cheers
Dave
Guardian of the Raeburn Shield and Utrecht Shield
