U85KG TROPHIES
The Maurice O’Connor Cup is awarded to the winner of the championship for the U85’s grade in conjunction with the Speights Cup.
First awarded in 1966 to Suburbs Rugby Club when it was played for. It was first played for in the U85 grade in 1999. The Maurice O’Connor Cup is the oldest trophy in the Auckland Union cabinet, having first been contested in Third Grade in the late 1890s although that wasn’t immediately clear from any newspaper reports of the day; in fact, the winners of the Senior and Junior competitions received cups which were never known by any particular name except the ‘Senior Cup’ and ‘Junior Cup’. There would be few older trophies still contested in New Zealand club rugby.
The trophy continued as the main prize for Third Grade Open until 1949. In that season there was a major overhaul of club trophies, and the Maurice O’Connor Cup was replaced by the Third Grade Challenge Cup. Replaced, but not retired, as all the lower grade trophies were reallocated. The Maurice O’Connor Cup was switched to Fourth Grade, replacing the Whittome Shield.
It was included in the photo of major trophies which appeared in the Centennial Book, but it was not one of those which had its origins listed – probably because no record was maintained. It was, for well over 40 years, the premier prize in Fourth Grade, but as the number of teams contracted and various grades discontinued, it was retired along with Fourth Grade itself. More recently it, and the Speights Cup, have been awarded to the championship winner in the Under 85kg division.
He was renown as one of New Zealand’s foremost detectives, having served as the head of the division in both Christchurch and Dunedin before a breakdown in health compelled him to resign from the Police. He was a well-known freestyle wrestler and a great supporter of several other sports.
This is the challenge cup for the U85kg grade. This is played for at all home games of the team that holds the cup.
The Speights Shield is one of a number of similar trophies which have been presented in recent times and named in commemoration of some of Auckland’s finest players. Each grade now has such a prize, which is defended each time the holder plays a home match – similar to the Ranfurly Shield.
The shield was donated by the brewery which has always been a great supporter of the Under 85kg grades and has sister trophies in the Speights Cup and Speights Plate, which are awarded to the championship winner and the Plate winner respectively.
One of the other prizes Speights has been notable for awarding is a large amount of their premium product – always well received by those fortunate enough to get hold of it at season’s end.
The Speights Cup is awarded to the championship winner each season, in conjunction with the Maurice O’Conor Cup.
It has sister trophies in the Speights Plate and Speights Shield, which are also Under 85kg trophies awarded to the Plate winner and the holder of the grade’s challenge trophy respectively.
One of the other prizes Speights has been notable for awarding is a large amount of their premium product – always well received by those fortunate enough to get hold of it at season’s end.
The Speights Plate is awarded to the winner of the second section of the championship each season.
It has sister trophies in the Speights Cup and Speights Shield, which are also Under 85kg trophies awarded to the championship winner and the holder of the grade’s challenge trophy respectively.
One of the other prizes Speights has been notable for awarding is a large amount of their premium product – always well received by those fortunate enough to get hold of it at season’s end.