Dave Gallaher Trophy: Difference between revisions

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The Dave Gallaher Trophy is a rugby union trophy, contested between France and New Zealand and named after Dave Gallaher, the famous 1905-06 All Black captain who was killed in Belgium during World War I.

Introduced in 2000, it is awarded to the winner of a selected challenge match between the two nations in any given year. So far it has been contested five times, with the All Blacks winning the inaugural edition and managing to hold it until 2009. The last challenge match ended in a 14-10 win to New Zealand in Wellington at the Westpac Stadium on June 20, with France having won the first match in the series 27-22 in Dunedin.

History

When it comes to rugby, France and New Zealand have a very rich common history. France played their first ever test match in 1906 against the famous "Originals" New Zealand team, on their way home after an eventful tour of the British Isles.

Between 1906 and 1999 both teams met a total of 34 times , New Zealand winning 25 times and France 9, including two games in the Rugby World Cup with New Zealand winning the 1987 final and France taking their revenge in the semi-final 12 years later in what remains one of the most famous upsets in the sport's history.

In 2000 it was decided that a new trophy would be created to emphasize the two teams' great rivalry. The trophy would be named after Dave Gallaher, the charismatic captain of the 1906 New Zealand team, who died 11 years later on French soil during World War I.

Challenges and defences

The Dave Gallaher Trophy is based on a challenge system, the holding union must defend the trophy in challenge matches, and if the other union defeats them, they become the new holder of the trophy. If both teams draw then the holder retains the trophy.

There can be only one challenge match during each test series, if both team were to meet twice - such as in 2000 or 2006 - only one match can count as a challenge match, the date of which being selected by mutual agreement between the two unions.

Rugby World Cup games between both teams - such as the 2003 RWC 3rd place play-off won by New Zealand - do not qualify as challenge matches.

Both teams have met on 7 occasions, 5 of which were challenge matches with New Zealand winning four of them and the 2002 game finishing in a draw.

France did beat New Zealand in the second match of the 2000 autumn test series but the All Blacks had already won the challenge match for that series a week earlier. New Zealand won the second match in the 2009 series 14-10, but France had already won the challenge.

Results

Year	Home	Score	Away	Date	Venue
2000	France	26 - 39	New Zealand	11 November	Stade de France, Paris
2001	New Zealand	37 - 12	France	30 June	Westpac Stadium, Wellington
2002^[1]	France	20 - 20	New Zealand	16 November	Stade de France, Paris
2003	New Zealand	31 - 23	France	28 June	Jade Stadium, Christchurch
2004	France	6 - 45	New Zealand	27 November	Stade de France, Paris
2006	France	3 - 47	New Zealand	11 November	Stade de Gerland, Lyon
2007	New Zealand	42 - 11	France	2 June	Eden Park, Auckland
2009	New Zealand	22-27	France	13 June	Dunedin

Reference: "Dave Gallaher Cup". lassen.co.nz. Retrieved 2007-09-26.

Other trophies

The All Blacks compete with three other nations for the attribution of a similar kind of trophy. The Bledisloe Cup, versus Australia, being the most famous. The other two are the Freedom Cup against South Africa and the Hillary Shield against England.

As for France, they compete with Australia for the Trophée des Bicentenaires and with Italy for the Garibaldi Trophy.

Notes and references

^ New Zealand retained the trophy as they were the incumbent holders.

External links

The Dave Gallaher Trophy results

[1] New Zealand retained the trophy as they were the incumbent holders.

[1]

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 Rugby World Cup games between both teams - such as the [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003 RWC]] 3rd place play-off won by New Zealand - do not qualify as challenge matches.
-Since the trophy's inception France have yet to win it. Both teams have met on 7 occasions, 5 of which were challenge matches with New Zealand winning four of them and the [[2002 in sports|2002]] game finishing in a draw.
+Both teams have met on 7 occasions, 5 of which were challenge matches with New Zealand winning four of them and the [[2002 in sports|2002]] game finishing in a draw.
 France did beat New Zealand in the second match of the 2000 autumn test series but the [[All Blacks]] had already won the challenge match for that series a week earlier. New Zealand won the second match in the 2009 series 14-10, but France had already won the challenge.