Key information
- Current Holder: Horowhenua Kapiti
- Status: Holding over the Summer
- How they won it: Successfully defeated previous holders, King Country 45-36
- Season defences: West Coast (27 - 26), and Wairarapa Bush (22 - 21)
- Next contest: TBD
2026 marks 20 years of the Heartland Championship (established 2006), making it a milestone year for provincial rugby's grassroots competition. The Bill Osborne Taonga, in its fifth year, will be central to the heritage celebrations throughout the season.
History of the Taonga
Named after a legend
This taonga is named after William (Bill) Osborne who represented Wanganui and Waikato at a provincial level. He went on to represent New Zealand in both the All Blacks and New Zealand Māori. After retiring from playing, he served on the New Zealand Māori Rugby Board. In 2017, he was elected vice-president of New Zealand Rugby, ascending to the President's role.
The trophy bearing his name honours not just his achievements, but the thousands of players who represent their provinces with pride at the Heartland level.
Read more about Bill Osborne here: Bill Osborne » NZ Rugby Stats
Introduction (2021)
The Bill Osborne Taonga was introduced in 2021 to give Heartland Championship rugby its own challenge trophy, mirroring the tradition of the Ranfurly Shield in the NPC and the JJ Stewart Trophy in the Farah Palmer Cup.
Bill Osborne Taonga
The challenge system
The Bill Osborne Taonga is contested in a challenge-based system, like the Ranfurly Shield, across Heartland Championship unions only. 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.
Complete Holder History
Since its introduction in 2021, it has been held by eight of the competitions 11 teams. The Taonga has changed hands regularly, with eight of the competition's 11 teams holding it at some point and no single union establishing a long-term hold yet.
| Team | Challenge Victory | Lost defence |
Played defences |
| 14/11/2021 | |||
| Poverty Bay | 2021 | Tournament format | |
| East Coast | 10/09/2022 | 17/08/2024 | 7 |
| Buller | 17/08/2024 | 24/08/2024 | 1 |
| King Country | 24/08/2024 | 31/08/2024 | 1 |
| Thames Valley | 31/08/2024 | 07/09/2024 | 1 |
| Wanganui | 07/09/2024 | 05/10/2024 | 2 |
| King Country | 05/10/2024 | 06/09/2025 | 2 |
| Horowhenua Kapiti | 06/09/2025 | 2 | |
2025 season
The Bill Osborne Taonga started the season in the King Country who successfully defended this against Poverty Bay in their first home match of the season, in Round 2. In Round 4, Horowhenua Kapiti claimed the Bill Osborne Taonga from King Country. The next week, they successfully defended it in a tight battle against the West Coast (27-26). In Round 7 it was on the line again for their last home match of the season, against Wairarapa Bush. They successfully defended it in another close contest, 22-21.
🏆 King Country → Started the season as holders
Began the year with the Taonga after winning in 2024
🏆 Horowhenua-Kapiti → Claimed it early in the season
Defended successfully through multiple challenges, establishing a strong tenure
The young trophy is still building its history, with every season adding new chapters.