Current Holder: Waikato
- Status: Back-to-back Premiership champions
- How they won it: Defeated Canterbury 19-13 in 2025 Premiership Final
- Previous tenure: Held in 2024 (won final)
- Next challenge: 2026 Farah Palmer Cup season
Waikato successfully defended their title in a gripping rematch of the 2024 final, ending Canterbury's near-decade of dominance. The trophy returns to Waikato for the second consecutive year.
2025 Final: A Rematch For the Ages
The Challenge
Waikato 19 - Canterbury 13
FMG Stadium, Waikato | October 2025
In a tense defensive battle played in challenging conditions—rain and sunshine alternating throughout the afternoon—Waikato held their nerve to claim back-to-back titles.
The Match Story
- First Half: Tight contest, both teams testing each other
- Canterbury's Push: The red and blacks briefly took the lead in the second half, seeking to reclaim the trophy they'd held since 2017
- Waikato's Response: Spurred by a vocal home crowd, Waikato showed championship composure
- The Decisive Moment: A crucial late try in the corner sealed the victory
What It Meant
- Waikato: Back-to-back titles, establishing a new dynasty
- Canterbury: End of an era after dominating since 2017
- Women's rugby: Proof that the Premiership competition is reaching new heights of skill and intensity
The match demonstrated why the Farah Palmer Cup is recognized as "a cornerstone of New Zealand's rugby future" (NZR, 2025).
The Trophy's Story
Named After a Pioneer
JJ Stewart was a pioneering figure in New Zealand rugby whose legacy is honored through this championship trophy. The trophy bearing this name represents:
- Excellence in women's provincial rugby
- The pathway from grassroots to Black Ferns
- Leadership and dedication to the game
- The building blocks of women's rugby in New Zealand
The Challenge System
Unlike traditional finals-only trophies, the JJ Stewart Memorial Trophy operates on a challenge-based system during the Farah Palmer Cup Premiership season.
How it works:
- Trophy on the line: When the holder plays, the trophy is contested
- Challengers win: Defeating the holder claims the trophy
- Season-long drama: Trophy can change hands at any point
- Final stakes: Often contested in the Premiership final
What this creates:
- Ongoing storylines throughout the season
- Mid-season drama when the trophy changes hands
- Added significance to every match involving the holder
- The same intrigue that makes the Ranfurly Shield beloved
This elevates women's provincial rugby by creating the same challenge-trophy tradition that has defined men's rugby for over a century.
Canterbury's Era of Dominance (2017-2024)
Near-Decade at the Top
From 2017 through 2024, Canterbury established themselves as the most successful JJ Stewart Trophy holder in history, with only brief interruptions to their reign.
The Numbers:
- Years held: 2017-2024 (with brief exceptions)
- Premiership titles: Multiple championships
- Successful defences: Numerous challenges defeated
- Legacy built: Set the standard for excellence in women's provincial rugby
Why Canterbury's Tenure Matters
Canterbury's dominance paralleled the growth period of women's rugby in New Zealand:
- Black Ferns winning 2017 Rugby World Cup
- Professionalisation of women's rugby
- Increased investment in provincial competitions
- Growing crowds and broadcast audiences
Their reign established the trophy's prestige and showed what sustained excellence looks like in the women's game.
The Waikato Challenge (2023-2025)
- 2023: Waikato won the final, breaking Canterbury's hold
- 2024: Waikato defended in a rematch, establishing their own credentials
- 2025: Back-to-back titles confirmed a power shift
From Canterbury's dynasty to Waikato's emergence—this is the competitive evolution that strengthens the entire competition.
Historical Holders & Famous Challenges
Recent Championship Timeline
- 2024-2025: Waikato (back-to-back champions)
- 2017-2023: Canterbury (dominant era, briefly interrupted)
- Pre-2017: Earlier holders (full history being documented)
Notable Challenges & Upsets
The challenge-based system has created memorable moments:
Canterbury's Successful Defences
Multiple challenges defeated during their near-decade reign, establishing them as the team to beat in women's provincial rugby.
Waikato's Breakthrough
Breaking Canterbury's dominance required not just one victory, but proving it again in back-to-back finals—a true changing of the guard.
The Rematch Factor
The 2024 and 2025 finals being Canterbury vs. Waikato created a modern rivalry that elevated both teams and the entire competition.
What Makes This Trophy Special
Elevating Women's Rugby
The JJ Stewart Memorial Trophy gives women's provincial rugby the same challenge-trophy tradition that has defined New Zealand rugby for generations:
- Year-round storylines: Not just about finals, but season-long drama
- Community pride: Towns rally behind their team when the trophy is on the line
- Historical significance: Winners etch their names in rugby history
- Pathway visibility: Showcases the talent pipeline to Black Ferns
Equal Recognition
By operating on a challenge basis like the Ranfurly Shield, the JJ Stewart Trophy signals: Women's provincial rugby deserves the same traditions, same prestige, same recognition.
Building the Legacy
Though younger than the Ranfurly Shield's 122-year history, the JJ Stewart Trophy is establishing its own legacy:
- Creating rivalries (Canterbury vs. Waikato)
- Building dynasties (Canterbury 2017-2024, Waikato 2024-2025)
- Generating moments that communities remember for generations
- Proving women's rugby belongs in New Zealand's sporting consciousness
The Black Ferns Connection
Many Black Ferns have contested the JJ Stewart Trophy at provincial level, making it a crucial part of the pathway to international rugby. When players lift this trophy, they're following in the footsteps of World Cup winners.
The Competition's Growth
Rising Standards
The 2025 Farah Palmer Cup demonstrated the competition's evolution:
Broadcast Growth:
- Increased viewership year-over-year
- Growing digital audiences
- More matches televised
- Social media engagement surging
Skill Level:
- Matches described as showcasing "amazing skill" on field
- Defensive intensity matching international standards
- Competition depth improving across all teams
Fan Engagement:
- Strong attendance at key matches
- Community support growing
- Media coverage expanding
- Profile of women's rugby rising
Why This Trophy Matters
As NZR stated in 2025: "The skill level and intensity on display have reaffirmed the competition's status as a cornerstone of New Zealand's rugby future."
The JJ Stewart Trophy sits at the heart of this growth—it's not just about crowning champions, but building a competition that New Zealand can be proud of.
2026 Season Preview
The Trophy Returns to Waikato
- Current holder: Waikato
- Status: Champions carry the trophy into 2026
- Challenge: Every Premiership match is now a potential trophy match
Can Waikato Build a Dynasty?
- Will they match Canterbury's sustained excellence?
- Can they defend against all challengers?
- Who will emerge as the next serious contender?
Canterbury's Hunger
After seven years of dominance, Canterbury fell short in back-to-back finals. Their hunger to reclaim the trophy will drive their 2026 campaign.
The Next Generation
As the competition enters a new era, which other teams will rise to challenge for the JJ Stewart Trophy? The depth of New Zealand women's rugby means no holder is safe.
A Trophy That Matters
Since its establishment, the JJ Stewart Memorial Trophy has represented something vital: Women's provincial rugby deserves its own legends, its own dynasties, its own treasured prizes.
When teams contest this trophy, they're not just playing for silverware—they're:
- Writing themselves into rugby history
- Representing their provinces with pride
- Inspiring the next generation of young players
- Proving that women's rugby belongs at the center of New Zealand's sporting identity
Canterbury's seven-year reign showed what excellence looks like.
Waikato's back-to-back titles proved dynasties can be challenged.
The 2026 season will show who writes the next chapter.
That's what makes this trophy the premier prize in women's provincial rugby.