On Sunday the 29th of June 2008, 2.45 at Rugby Park in Dannevirke, the Central Hawkes Bay representative rugby side will be challenging Dannevirke for the Bebbington Shield.

This shield was first played for in 1924 so it certainly has a long history behind it. The shield is played between five sub-unions or districts namely CHB, Dannevirke, Bush (Northern Wairarapa), Rangitikei, and Northern Wanganui. It is played for on a challenge basis similar to that of the Ranfurly Shield

The Sheild was first presented by Mr. J Bebbington of Palmerston North and has been fought after for some 84 years. Each of the five teams have all had a reign with the shield and CHB have not held it since 2001.

At this point CHB were the holders of the shield and were not able to defend it due to the tragic death of one of the team in a local rugby match. The shield was forfeited to Rangitikei and has not been challenged for until late last year. Last years challenge was against Bush late in the season and CHB narrowly lost 7-6 in the 80 somethingth minute!!

A special mention must be made to Andy Gunson who got the squad and management together last year and again in 2008, and has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to reinstate the Sheild. The Bebbington shield is also played for at Colts level and Andy is keen to put a challenge in for next year if he gets the support.

The Selectors, Brent Muggeridge, Andy Gunson and John Kilmister have been visiting the clubs, namely Central, Porongahau, Otane, Takapau, Onga-Tiko and Waipawa to select a squad for the challenge.

As the dynamics of our current rugby era have changed the players should view this as their only chance to play at representative level.

We have age group, Ross Sheild, Secondary School and Hawkes Bay Rep’s but nothing else that the local talent can strive for above club level.

Should our challenge be successful then we would expect 2-3 challenges to defend it this year.

The team have been supplied a new strip from KooGa. A special thanks to Andy Kells who sought and got funding for this.

Funding has also been kindly donated from the Farriers Arms which has gone towards tracktops for management and the reserves.

The squad will have two trainings at the Central Rugby grounds on Sunday the 15th and 22nd of June at 11am.

The team will be coached be Brent Muggeridge and Steve Bennett and the manager is Wayne Brown.                                                                    

Bebbington Shield Squad 2008

Greg Fleming (C),
Tim Hamilton (C),
James Wedd (C),
Hamish Carroll (C),
Warwick Slingsby(C),
Mark Shaw (Onga),
Stu Smith (C),
Scott Boyd (W),
Dan Sargent (C),
Kade Wynn (W),
Marcus Jackson (C),
Leith Ashworth (C),
Mike Chaffey (O),
Gareth Fergusson (C),
Kelly Graham (O),
Ronald Strydom (C),
Raymond Reti (O),
Steve Baker (C),
Lee Stewart (C),
Joe Phillips (O),
Raymond Timu (W),
James Hamilton (C),
Sam Fuller (C),
Mark Donald (C),
Robbie Barr (C)

Rob Evans was not considered because of his Hawkes Bay commitments.
Anyone unavailable please contact John Kilmister ph. 8587535