Rugby: Battle of the South sure to sell out

The Ranfurly Shield. File photo

Sporting rivalries for the ages?

Forget the Battle of the Bridge, between Auckland and North Harbour last weekend.

When it comes to a true provincial rugby rivalry, the one in the deep south has its northern version well beaten.

Otago and Southland have been locking horns since 1887, when the first clash between the southern neighbours resulted in a 6-nil victory for Otago, in Dunedin.

The first time the two provinces met with the Ranfurly Shield st stake was in 1921, when the southernmost team won at home in Invercargill, 10-8.

Flash forward to next weekend, and Otago's Shield challenge against Southland in Invercargill is heading for a sell out.

All seats in the main and temporary stands have sold out five days out from Saturday's showdown at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill.

There are still plenty of tickets available on the terraces with Rugby Southland hoping for a capacity crowd of 18,000.

The match is also an ITM Cup fixture.

While Southland enjoyed parity with its more populous neighbour up State Highway One ("the big smoke") during the early days of Shield challenges, Otago has dominated the more recent encounters.

Otago won the last five in a row, between 1947 and 1950.

And although it's been 60 long years since that last challenge, you can be sure of one thing; in the deep south, memories run deep.

WHAT: Ranfurly Shield Challenge / ITM Cup round two fixture

WHO: Southland vs Otago

WHERE: Rugby Park Invercargill

WHEN: 4.35pm Saturday 7 August

- NEWSTALK ZB, NZHERALD STAFF