MacRobertson International Croquet Shield

The competition is named after Australian confectionery maker and philanthropist, Sir Macpherson Robertson.[1] In the early 1920s, Robertson played croquet as his pastime. He enlisted returned World War I veterans to take up concessions for his products and encouraged them to try croquet also, believing it to be a teaching aid for developing skills in self-discipline and risk management. Eventually, a pool of players were participating in regular tournaments. In 1925, with a growing interest in the sport, he established the MacRobertson Shield, an international tournament of croquet "Tests" between Australia and England. The Victorian Croquet Association sent a team of four players to England to contest the inaugural tournament. England won easily and Robertson presented the Shield personally.

In 1927-8 an England team played in Australia and was narrowly defeated. In 1930, New Zealand was invited to participate in a series between themselves and Australia, with Australia winning comfortably; the first triangular series was then held in 1935 in Melbourne as part of the Melbourne centenary celebrations. In 1993, a United States team was admitted into the tournament.

Between 1974 and 2010 the team representing the Croquet Association was named "Great Britain" and in two series "Great Britain and Ireland", because the teams included players from Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Following the introduction of the World Croquet Federation World Association Croquet Team Championship in 2010, the team was named "England" from the 2013-14 series and now only includes English qualified players.

Each team is represented by six players and since 1996 each test has been the best of 21 matches comprising 12 singles and 9 doubles.

The 2022 Series [2] was played at Cairnlea, Melbourne, Australia in November 2022 and was won by England [3] over Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

W/L
Australia	—	8–13	11–10	14–7
England	13–8	—	11–10	16–5
New Zealand	10–11	10–11	—	9–5
USA	7–14	5–16	5–9	—

Source: [2]

The 2017 Series [4] was played at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, USA and won by Australia over England, New Zealand and the United States.[5] The tournament was held over three five-day tests and 21 matches.

W/L
Australia	—	12–9	14–7	14–7
England	9–12	—	15–4	14–7
New Zealand	14–7	4–15	—	11–10
USA	7–14	7–14	10–11	—

Source: [4]

The 2013-14 series [6] was contested in New Zealand across four different venues, and was won by New Zealand.

30 December 2013 - 3 January 2014: New Zealand v USA and England v Australia at United Croquet Club, Christchurch

• England 16 - 5 Australia
• New Zealand 20 - 1 USA

5 - 9 January: England v USA at Te Mata Croquet Club, Havelock North and New Zealand v Australia at Marewa Croquet Club, Napier

• England 18 - 3 USA
• New Zealand 15 - 4 Australia

11 - 15 January: New Zealand v England and Australia v USA at Mt Maunganui Croquet Club, Tauranga

• New Zealand 13 - 7 England
• Australia 17 - 4 USA

W/L
Australia	—	5–16	4–15	17–4
England	16–5	—	7–13	18–3
New Zealand	15–4	13–7	—	20–1
USA	4–17	3–18	1–20	—

Source: [6]

The 2010 Shield was contested in Great Britain, across five different venues, and was won by Great Britain.[7]

6 – 10 August: Great Britain v USA at Bowdon, Greater Manchester and Australia v New Zealand at Heaton Park, Manchester

• Great Britain 12 - 9 USA
• Australia 8 - 13 New Zealand

12 – 16 August: Great Britain v New Zealand at Nottingham and Australia v USA at Roehampton

• Great Britain 11 - 10 New Zealand
• Australia 7 - 14 USA

18 – 22 August: Great Britain v Australia and New Zealand v USA both at Surbiton

• Great Britain 14 - 7 Australia
• USA 5 - 16 New Zealand

W/L
Australia	—	7–14	8–13	7–14
Great Britain	14–7	—	11–10	12–9
New Zealand	13–8	10–11	—	16–5
USA	14–7	9–12	5–16	—

Source: [7]

The 2006 series [8] was contested at Rich River, Moama, New South Wales and Shepparton, Victoria, Australia, and was won by Great Britain.

W/L
Australia	—	2–19	11–10	14–7
Great Britain	19–2	—	15–6	19–2
New Zealand	10–11	6–15	—	8–13
USA	7–14	2–19	13–8	—

Source: [8]

The 2003 series [9] was contested at The National Croquet Center, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, and was won by Great Britain.

W/L
Australia	—	6–15	15–6	11–10
Great Britain	15–6	—	11–10	15–6
New Zealand	6–15	10–11	—	9–12
USA	10–11	6–15	12–9	—

Source: [9]

The 2000 series [10] was contested at The United Croquet Club, Christchurch, New Zealand, and was won by Great Britain.

W/L
Australia	—	1–20	7–14	10–11
Great Britain	20–1	—	11–10	19–2
New Zealand	14–7	10–11	—	13–8
USA	11–10	2–19	8–13	—

Source: [10]

[11]

• World Croquet Federation

• 2010 MacRobertson Shield
• MacRobertson Shield Records and Statistics