Blues vs Highlanders: A Brief History of the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy

Friday evening sees the observation of a relatively new but celebrated tradition in the land of the long white cloud as the Blues and Highlanders clash for the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy. 

Gordon Hunter was a revered coach in New Zealand who, at different stages of his career, was in charge of both the Blues and the Highlanders. Tragically, Hunter was diagnosed with cancer and died in 2002 at the age of 52 and his memory is honoured annually when the Blues and Highlanders lock horns. 

Hunter was a Southland native and educated at Southland Boys’ High School where his tackling ability is still the stuff of legend. After school, Hunter moved to Dunedin where he joined up with the Zingari-Richmond club. Hunter earned a couple of caps for Otago before a work-place accident cost him his left eye. Thereafter, Hunter took an interest in the coaching side of the game. 

Highlanders co-captain Aaron Smith said of Hunter, "[He] cared for his players and trusted you play your game but also was a bit of a character off the field." 

Author Scotty Stevenson wrote: "In essence, he was a coach who loved the game and even more so the boys who played it for him. He was the Detective who left his own fingerprints on New Zealand’s national sport." 

Since 2002, the both the Blues and Hurricanes have won the trophy 10 times each.