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SELECT 👉 Hagley Oval commentaryMid Canterbury write a perfect chapter in Heartland Championship folklore
Jamie Lawlor • October 20th, 2025 2:23 pm
Mid Canterbury co-captains Adam Williamson and Declan McCormack | Photo: Bunnings Provincial Rugby
The Mid Canterbury Hammers have completed their fairytale season, with a happily ever after ending, beating Thames Valley 21-18 in the 2025 Meads Cup final.
This year’s Meads Cup was a repeat of the 2024 final, with the Thames Valley Foxes looking to end Mid Canterbury’s undefeated season and go back-to-back.
Co-captain of the Mid Canterbury side Adam 'Fridge' Williamson told Sport Nation's Scotty Stevenson, that winning the Meads Cup was long overdue, especially after coming so close last year.
“We’ve been chasing this cup for a long time, it really brought out some emotions on Saturday once that final whistle went,” said Williamson.
“To get so far last year and then to get so close, it seems like every time we play them it's just a full-on battle and Saturday was no different.
“It was a bittersweet feeling, because they were a tough side and it just felt like they were never ending, throwing everything they had at us.”
Mid Canterbury celebrate their perfect season | Photo: Bunnings Provincial Rugby
This Meads Cup victory for Mid Canterbury was the region's first win in over 10 years, lifting the trophy last in 2014.
Williamson said that emotions were on display in Ashburton on Saturday after the final whistle blew.
“Personally, I had a lot of emotions come out, 10 years I've been on this team, and I did shed tear.
“The fellas just wanted to soak up the emotion, soak it all in and just take in the moment, we all went out after the after function and that and sat down on the field again and just sort of soaked it all in.”
The key to the Hammer’s season this year was the relationships that were built throughout the year said Williamson.
“It's the players on the team, it's the guys that you get to spend 10 weeks with, bonding, travelling, you spend a lot of time with them, and you can actually call them your brother at the end of the day because that's what they are.”
The last team to go undefeated in the Heartland Championship was South Canterbury in 2023.
The New Zealand Heartland XV squad for 2025 is scheduled to be named Tuesday.
Listen to the full interview below:
