Wanganui rugby fans had a taste of what it's like to hold the Ranfurly Shield yesterday, 10 days out from a challenge for the Log O' Wood against Taranaki.
The shield made a fleeting visit to the River City through an in-house deal with Farmlands branches. Taranaki assistant coach Leo Crowley is also a part-time employee of Farmlands in his home province and decided it was timely to promote the August 4 challenge at Yarrow Stadium.
Wanganui farmlands business manager Brad Benton said a steady stream of clients and rugby fans popped in for a look at the shield, creating debate on the outcome of Wanganui's challenge.
Wanganui has had 27 cracks at winning the coveted rugby trophy since its inception in 1902 but has yet to wrest it off opposition teams.
Perhaps the closest Wanganui has come to claiming the shield was actually against Taranaki in 1963 and again in 1964.