The Ross Shield competition is one of the longest running rugby competitions in New Zealand and is the pinnacle of primary school's rugby in Hawke's Bay.  The competition was started in 1902 by Napier businessman and keen sports enthusiast J A Ross. In the early years the competition was arranged on a challenge basis. The competition was suspended during WW1, but it was revived again in the early 1920s when it became a round robin tournament of teams selected from schools in each district; this format has been largely untouched in nearly ninety years.

The basic format has survived, however debates have raged over various issues, but none more than the issue of weight.  Today, this is still at the forefront of discussion with the weight finally being raised by the HBRFU recently to 56kg. The 1939 minutes asked the weight to be raised from 8st 7lb54kg) to 9st (57.2kg) the vote was split and the chairman used his casting vote to retain a status quo.  The weight debate ran most years until the early 60’s when it was settled on 8st (51kg).

In 1988 Taupo competed for the Ross Shield for the last time as their ties with the Hawkes Bay Rugby Union were severed when they became part of the King Country Union. To prevent a bye, Hastings, being the most successful of the Sub Unions, was divided into two districts, East & West.