Dave Gallaher Trophy
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The Dave Gallaher Trophy is a rugby union trophy, contested between France and New Zealand and named after Dave Gallaher, the famous 1905-06 All Black captain who died in France during World War I.
Introduced in 2000, it is awarded to the winner of a selected challenge match between the two nations in any given year. So far it has been contested five times, with the All Blacks winning the inaugural edition and managing to hold onto the trophy ever since.
The last challenge match ended in a 23-11 win to New Zealand in Paris at the Stade de France.
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[edit] 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 on French soil during World War I.
[edit] 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.
There can be only one challenge match during each test series, if both team were to meet twice - such as in 2000 or 2006 - only one match can count as a challenge match, the date of which being selected by mutual agreement between the two unions.
Rugby World Cup games between both teams - such as the 2003 RWC 3rd place play-off won by New Zealand - do not qualify as challenge matches.
Since the trophy's inception France have yet to win it. Both teams have met on 7 occasions, 5 of which were challenge matches with New Zealand winning four of them and the 2002 game finishing in a draw.
France did beat New Zealand in the second match of the 2000 autumn test series but the All Blacks had already won the challenge match for that series a week earlier.
[edit] Results
| Year | Winner | Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 |  |
France | 26 - 39 | New Zealand | 11 November | Stade de France, Paris |
| 2001 | |
New Zealand | 37 - 12 | France | 30 June | Westpac Stadium, Wellington |
| 2002 | |
France | 20 - 20 | New Zealand | 16 November | Stade de France, Paris |
| 2003 | |
New Zealand | 31 - 23 | France | 28 June | Jade Stadium, Christchurch |
| 2004 | |
France | 6 - 45 | New Zealand | 27 November | Stade de France, Paris |
| 2006 | |
France | 11 - 23 | New Zealand | 18 November | Stade de France, Paris |
Notes:
- New Zealand retained the title in 2002 as they were the previous holders.
[edit] 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 one is the Freedom Cup against South Africa.
As for France, they compete with Australia for the Trophée des Bicentenaires and with Italy for the Garibaldi Trophy.
