Raeburn Shield

The Raeburn Shield is an unofficial rugby union lineal championship contested in international men's rugby union. The title follows a "title holder" system - similar to a boxing world title or New Zealand's Ranfurly Shield, where the holder of the Shield defends it in each subsequent international match they play. If the holder loses, the winning team becomes the new holder. The title traces its lineage to the first international rugby union match played between Scotland and England at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh on 27 March 1871. Scotland's victory in that match is treated as the first championship win, and the title is considered to have passed between national teams through successive Test matches since then. The Raeburn Shield is not an official competition organised by World Rugby, but rather a statistical and historical concept used by rugby historians and fans to track a continuous lineal champion. A women's version of the trophy, the Utrecht Shield, follows the same format. As of 01 September 2026, South Africa are the current holders following their victory over New Zealand in the 2026 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa.