Dave Gallaher Trophy
SportRugby union
Instituted2000
Number of teams2
Country France
 New Zealand
Holders France (2021)
Most titles New Zealand (13 titles)

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

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 during the Battle of Broodseinde in 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.

Rugby World Cup games between both teams - such as the 2003 RWC 3rd place play-off won by New Zealand or the 2007 RWC quarter final won by France and 2011 RWC final won by NZL - do not qualify as challenge matches.

France won the 2009 challenge 37–36 on aggregate score over two matches, having won the first test 27–22 and lost the second 10–14. The New Zealand team had assumed the series would be drawn if each team won one test, and were upset to discover that aggregate was taken into account, which their coaching staff had deliberately withheld from them.[1]

New Zealand would retain the trophy for 12 years until being defeated 40–25 by France in Paris.

Matches

Details P  France  New Zealand D France points New Zealand points
France France 11 2 8 1 216 359
New Zealand New Zealand 12 1 11 0 153 411
Overall 23 3 19 1 369 770

Results

Year Date Venue Home Score Away Trophy
winner
2000 11 November Stade de France, Paris France  26–39  New Zealand New Zealand
18 November Stade Vélodrome, Marseille 42–33
2001 30 June Westpac Stadium, Wellington New Zealand  37–12  France New Zealand
2002 16 November Stade de France, Paris France  20–20  New Zealand Draw
2003 28 June Lancaster Park, Christchurch New Zealand  31–23  France New Zealand
2004 27 November Stade de France, Paris France  6–45  New Zealand New Zealand
2006 11 November Stade de Gerland, Lyon France  3–47  New Zealand New Zealand
18 November Stade de France, Paris 11–23
2007 2 June Eden Park, Auckland New Zealand  42–11  France New Zealand
9 June Westpac Stadium, Wellington 61–10
2009 13 June Carisbrook, Dunedin New Zealand  22–27  France France
20 June Westpac Stadium, Wellington 14–10
2009 28 November Stade Vélodrome, Marseille France  12–39  New Zealand New Zealand
2013 8 June Eden Park, Auckland New Zealand  23–13  France New Zealand
15 June Rugby League Park, Christchurch 30–0
22 June Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth 24–9
2013 9 November Stade de France, Paris France  19–26  New Zealand New Zealand
2016 26 November Stade de France, Paris France  19–24  New Zealand New Zealand
2017 11 November Stade de France, Paris France  18–38  New Zealand New Zealand
2018 9 June Eden Park, Auckland New Zealand  52–11  France New Zealand
16 June Westpac Stadium, Wellington 26–13
23 June Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 49–14
2021 20 November Stade de France, Paris France  40–25  New Zealand France

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

  1. ↑ Robson, Toby (22 June 2009). "When a win's not a win". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
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