This weekend the Grammar TEC and Ponsonby Premiers play for the inaugural Grafton Cup.

This new piece of silverware has been introduced to not only acknowledge the strong sporting rivalry between the two clubs but commemorate the year that Ponsonby and Grafton one of the Grammar TEC founding clubs joined forces to play in the Auckland premier grade competition.

In 1944 with many of the young men away at the Second World War both clubs were struggling to field a premier team, so it was agreed that they would put a combined team in for that one season. This maintained the two clubs unbroken history from their original first season in 1874 as two of the three founding Auckland clubs along with North shore.

In 1914 Grammar Schools Old Boys Rugby Club joined the competition and it was up until 1981 when Grafton amalgamated with Cornwall to form Carlton that the three clubs competed in the Auckland Premier competition the Gallaher Shield. Carlton went on to form the current Grammar TEC rugby Club from Grammar Carlton & Teachers Eastern.

Grammar TEC President Martin Mackenzie said it is very important we maintain and celebrate these long term rivalries and associations, the Grafton Cup will now be a key date in our calendar for many years to come. As Grammar TEC we look forward to meeting Ponsonby on the field and creating new legends and stories of outstanding games between the clubs and this Cup will only help to grow them.

Between the Ponsonby and Grammar TEC founding clubs of Grafton, Grammar, Grammar Carton and Teachers Eastern the clubs have produced a staggering 112 All Blacks and won 64 Gallaher Shields.