all blacks

Events In History

Articles

1987 Rugby World Cup

  • 1987 Rugby World Cup

    In a country where rugby became a surrogate for religion, hosting and then winning the first Rugby World Cup was a big deal. The story of how the tournament came about mixes the worlds of sport, politics and money.

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  • Page 3 – The long road to the cup

    There were many obstacles along the road to the first Rugby World Cup.

1981 Springbok tour

  • 1981 Springbok tour

    For 56 days in July, August and September 1981, New Zealanders were divided against each other in the largest civil disturbance seen since the 1951 waterfront dispute. The cause of this was the visit of the South African rugby team – the Springboks.

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  • Page 7 – Tour diary

    Select itinerary of the 1981 tour by the Springbok rugby team.

Passchendaele: fighting for Belgium

  • Passchendaele: fighting for Belgium

    Ever since 1917 Passchendaele has been a byword for the horror of the First World War. The assault on this tiny Belgian village cost the lives of thousands of New Zealand soldiers. But its impact reached far beyond the battlefield, leaving deep scars on many New Zealand communities and families.

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  • Page 5 - The human impactOne in four New Zealand men aged 20–45 was either killed or wounded in the First World War, but the impact of the war reached far beyond these individuals and directly affected

The 1920s

  • The 1920s

    The 1920s was the decade that modern New Zealand came of age. Despite political and economic uncertainty, the country shrugged off the gloom of war to embrace the Jazz Age - an era of speed, power and glamour. Explore an overview of the decade and a year-by-year breakdown of key events.

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  • Page 7 - 1924 - key eventsA selection of key New Zealand events from

Biographies

  • Gallaher, David

    Dave Gallaher was captain of the 1905 ‘Originals’ rugby team, the first to be known as the All Blacks. His death while fighting overseas during the First World War ensured that he acquired a mystique that transcended sport.

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  • Ellison, Thomas Rangiwahia

    Tom Ellison was captain of NZ's first official rugby team in 1893. He invented the wing forward position and in 1903 wrote one of the game's first coaching manuals.

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  • Nēpia, George

    George Nēpia is considered to be one of New Zealand rugby’s finest players. He played all 32 matches for the famous 1924-25 ‘Invincibles’ on their tour of the British Isles, France and Canada.

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  • Lochore, Brian James

    Wairarapa born and bred, Brian James (BJ) Lochore won distinction as a player and administrator at school, club, provincial and national level.

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  • Allen, Frederick Richard

    Described as an ‘immaculate player’, Allen went on to become the most successful All Black coach ever.

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  • Whineray, Wilson James

    The great New Zealand rugby writer T.P. McLean declared ‘unhesitatingly’ that Wilson (‘Noddy’) Whineray was New Zealand’s ‘greatest captain’.

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  • Alley, Geoffrey Thomas

    Geoffrey Alley was an All Black lock and a farmer, and then became involved in adult education and library services.

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  • Lomu, Jonah

    Jonah Lomu (1975-2015) was the first – and remains the only – rugby player to achieve worldwide fame.

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