Two shields that pass from nation to nation, one match at a time. Whoever holds a shield defends it every time they play. Beat them and it’s yours.

The story so far

• The Aberdare Shield has changed hands 120 times in 357 matches since Wales beat New Zealand 9–8 on 1 January 1908.
• Seven nations have held it: Australia, England, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Tonga and Wales.
• The record reign is Australia’s 15 defences from May 2011 to October 2014. Next best is England’s 11, between 1923 and 1936.
• Tonga beat Australia 16–12 in 2019 and then held the shield for 966 days without playing a single international.
• Only New Zealand and Australia have ever held the Lidcombe Shield. New Zealand’s 16-defence reign from 1999 to 2009 is the women’s record.

New to the shields? Read how the shields work.