First of all, let me get this straight: I Love the Ranfurly Shield. Shield challenges are must-watch matches for me.

It is one of NZ rugby's longest standing traditions and has pulling power because it is so hard to win the thing. A Shield challenge is exactly that: a challenge. In this regard it parallels the Bledisloe Cup a bit.

Now the NZRU are proposing that the shield MUST be put up home AND away after any team has had 4 successful defences.

Presumably they think that this will:
1) Get the shield out to more provinces than just the holder's (thus generating extra ticket sales for the challenging provinces when the holder visits).
2) Increase the likelihood of the shield moving about and increasing interest.

What they haven't figured out is:|
1) Winning the shield is supposed to be a CHALLENGE. The fact the thing is so hard to win, and rarely moves about, is what makes it so bloomin' special in the first place
2) If it moves about too much the interest will wane, and it will be just another match.

Once we have a PROPER round robin where every team plays every other team, just about everyone is guaranteed at least one challenge every 2 years (occasionally 3 if it moves about a bit), fix this part of the ANZC and leave the Shield alone.

They've tinkered with the tri nations, the super 14, the NPC, can't they just leave ONE thing alone (especially the longest running national tradition in NZ rugby)?

PLEASE NZRU, Leave the Shield as it is:
• Home challenges ONLY unless the holder chooses to put it up for grabs at an away game.
• With the holder encouraged to play two AWAY challenges pre-season against top Heartland unions.