About the JJ Stewart Trophy
Key information
- Current Holder: Waikato
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Status: Holding through summer
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How they won it: Defeated Counties Manukau during the 2024 season and retained it throughout 2025
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Recent holders: Counties Manukau, Auckland, Canterbury (all in 2024)
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Next challenge: 2026 Farah Palmer Cup season
Waikato successfully defended the trophy throughout the 2025 season, against Canterbury, Counties Manukau and Manawatū.
The Trophy's Story
Named After a Pioneer
The trophy is named in honour of John Joseph “JJ” Stewart (1923–2002), a notable New Zealand rugby union coach, administrator, secondary school teacher and strong supporter of women’s rugby in New Zealand. Stewart served as All Blacks coach from 1973 to 1976 and contributed as a provincial coach in Taranaki and Wanganui, a selector, and a member of the Rugby Football Union council.
The Challenge System
The JJ Stewart Trophy is contested in a challenge-based system, like the Ranfurly Shield. The current holder must defend it against challengers at home games, during the regular season. If the challenger wins, they take possession and then defend it at upcoming home games during the regular season, creating a continuous, travelling trophy that moves whenever a challenger succeeds.
After a period of dominance by Canterbury, from 2017 to 2024, the JJ Stewart Memorial Trophy moved several times in 2024, ending the season in Waikato. Waikato successfully defended the Trophy three times during the regular season before going on to win the Premiership.
The significance of the JJ Stewart Trophy reflects the growth of women’s rugby in New Zealand, and the 2026 season will show who writes the next chapter in this trophy’s journey.