16 Aug 2025

Country Life: From the archives - rugby teams in Westland battle for sacred shield

6:20 am on 16 August 2025
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Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes

The Hari Hari Rugby Club are the 2025 George Woodham Shield champions, defeating Whataroa in this year's competition, a celebration of 75 years of grassroots rugby in South Westland.

Back in 2021, producer Cosmo Kentish-Barnes joined supporters on the sidelines for a piece of the action.

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Click here for Cosmo's 2021 story.

Whataroa v Souths at Whataroa for the Woodham Shield final.

Whataroa v Souths at Whataroa for the Woodham Shield final. Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes

Supporters during the match.

Supporters during the match. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

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Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes

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Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes

Gary MacRae as touch judge for the Woodham Shield final

Gary MacRae as touch judge for the Woodham Shield final Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes

Woodham Shield.

Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes

The shield will sit in the Whataroa rugby clubrooms over summer.

The shield will sit in the Whataroa rugby clubrooms over summer. Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes

It was a tough battle upfront.

It was a tough battle upfront. Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes

Three generations of the MacRae family have played for Whataroa.

Three generations of the MacRae family have played for Whataroa. Photo: Cheryl Riley

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Photo: RNZ / Cosmo Kentish-Barnes

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