Otago to have first challenge

Otago will get the first crack at the Ranfurly Shield in this year's Mitre 10 Cup.

The team is scheduled to play Canterbury on Sunday, August 27 in Christchurch at 4.35pm, where it will challenge for the famous ''log o' wood''. It will be the second match of the season for both teams, each playing away in round one.

Otago gets its season under way on the competition's opening night. It travels to play North Harbour on Thursday, August 17 in the first of four crossover matches with Premiership sides. The game will be a rematch of last year's Championship final, in which North Harbour claimed a dramatic 17-14 win at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Its other crossover matches include an away game against Wellington, along with home games against Auckland and Tasman. Otago has its first home game on Saturday, September 2 against Manawatu.

The Championship final is scheduled for Friday, October 27, and the Premiership final will be played the next night.

Meanwhile, in the Heartland Championship, North Otago begins its season on August 26 against Horowhenua-Kapiti in Levin. It then has its first home game a week later on September 2 against Mid Canterbury.

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