Tasman challenge for Ranfurly Shield likely in ITM Cup draw
The Tasman Makos face the added bonus of a likely Ranfurly Shield challenge this season after the 2012 ITM Cup rugby draw was released yesterday.
If cup-holders Taranaki manage to fend off King Country on July 27 and Wanganui on August 4 in preseason challenges, their first competition defence of the coveted Log o' Wood will be in round three against the Makos on Saturday, September 1.
Tasman have already challenged once for the Ranfurly Shield when they lost 20-26 to Wellington in 2008.
Tasman rugby boss Andrew Flexman said that following Tasman's opening-round match against Canterbury at Trafalgar Park, the prospective shield challenge was the ideal way to kick off the new season.
"Having had the lead-in game against the might of Canterbury, hopefully we can perform well at Trafalgar Park in the first round and take some confidence into what will obviously be a huge occasion for the boys and a great opportunity, I suppose," he said.
"We always knew that it was on the horizon but it's obviously been confirmed as of yesterday so, yeah, massive excitement and obviously a significant opportunity for the team and for Tasman rugby ultimately."
Tasman play Canterbury at Trafalgar Park on Friday, August 24, at 8.05pm, one of five home games and the first of three in Nelson.
Tasman will also host Bay of Plenty (October 4) and North Harbour (October 13) at Trafalgar Park, with Blenheim hosting games against Southland (September 12) and Northland (September 16) at Lansdowne Park.
This year's ITM Cup runs over 10 weeks and includes seven mid-week rounds, a format originally introduced in 2011 to accommodate a Rugby World Cup-compacted rugby year.
The competition retains the Premiership (top seven teams) and Championship (bottom seven) format with teams playing every other province within their Premiership-Championship as well as four crossover matches for full competition points. For each team, that means 10 matches – five home, five away – during the regular season.
Tasman's crossover opponents include Canterbury, Taranaki, Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
New Zealand Rugby Union general manager professional rugby Neil Sorensen said that the midweek rounds had been popular with the teams and fans last year and the provincial unions backed the move to retain them.
The ITM Cup Premiership and Championship semifinals are scheduled for October 19 and 20, with the finals to be held on October 26 and 27.
TASMAN'S DRAW
Friday, August 24, v Canterbury in Nelson, 8.05pm; Saturday, September 1, v Taranaki (RS) in New Plymouth, 7.35pm; Sunday, September 9, v Manawatu in Palmerston North, 2.35pm; Wednesday, September 12, v Southland in Blenheim, 7.35pm; Sunday, September 16, v Northland in Blenheim, 2.35pm; Sunday, September 23, v Otago in Dunedin, 4.35pm; Thursday, September 27, v Waikato in Hamilton, 7.35pm; Thursday, October 4, v BOP in Nelson, 7.35pm; Tuesday, October 9, v Counties Manukau in Pukekohe, 7.35pm; Saturday, October 13, v North Harbour in Nelson, 7.35pm.
