The four semi-finalists have been found and the Jubilee Cup goes on the line over the line over the next two weeks, with this year’s final being held at the Petone Recreation Ground on Sunday 7 August.
Wellington club rugby's most coveted trophy was presented by the WRFU in 1929 in recognition of its golden jubilee year and is awarded to the winner of the competition among the top eight teams in the Premier division.
The Victoria University Club was the first recipient of the Jubilee Cup, having successfully defended their title from 1928. Petone have the most Jubilee Cup victories. From their first win in 1930, they have gone on to record a further 22 Jubilee Cup titles, including an unprecedented five consecutive wins between 1967-1971. They also shared the Cup with St Pats Old Boys in 1949 and Wellington in 1982.
Other multiple winners include MSP (10 outright titles, one shared), Athletic (seven outright, one shared), Victoria University (seven, one shared), Wellington (five, three shared) and Poneke (five). The current semi-final and finals format was introduced in 1993. In that time MSP have triumphed eight times (once shared), Northern United four times (once shared), Petone three times, Poneke twice, ?and the Wests Roosters and Hutt Old Boys Marist once each.
Now in its 83rd year - interrupted by a name change only between 1993-1996 when it briefly became the Lion Brown Trophy - the Jubilee Cup still remains as the definitive accolade in Wellington club rugby, and of Wellington sport.
The Jubilee Cup was once hugely popular in Wellington sport; an estimated 23,000 people packing Athletic Park in 1953 to watch Victoria University with four All Blacks in?its side?led by the great Ron Jarden?win the Cup.
It has been said that the Jubilee Cup brings magic powers to the holder, such as extra strength or soothsayer abilities, and that its touch can cure maladies. Extraordinary feats have been accomplished in gymnasia, insightful predictions made and ills have evaporated after an encounter with the Jubilee Cup.
Recent Jubilee Cup Winners:
2010: Northern United
2009: Marist St. Pat's
2008: Marist St. Pat's and Northern United shared
2007: Hutt Old Boys Marist
2006: Northern United
2005: Petone
2004 Northern United
2003 Poneke
2002 Marist St Pats
2001 Marist St Pats
2000 Petone
?
The Hardham Cup
The Hardham Cup is contested by the bottom four sides from the first round Premier One Swindale Shield competition and the top four from the first round Senior 1 Harper Lock Shield. With promotion-relegation on the line, the Hardham Cup is always just as hard fought as the Jubilee Cup, as proven this season when five clubs were fighting for the four places available in Premier One the next year.
The Hardham Cup was presented for the first time by the WRFU in 1939, to be awarded for the competition among the then six teams in the bottom section of the Senior First Division. Wellington College Old Boys were the first winners of this trophy.
The cup was awarded to honour William James Hardham, who was born in Wellington in 1876. He was a talented rugby player, playing for Petone and representing Wellington from 1897-99, 1903-06, and in 1908 and 1910.
Recent Hardham Cup winners:
2010: Wainuiomata
2009: Old Boys-University
2008: Tawa
2007: Wainuiomata
2006: Upper Hutt
2005: Oriental-Rongotai