In a country where rugby is often referred to as a religion, hosting and 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.
One 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 most New Zealand families, communities, workplaces, schools and clubs.
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. Off
the field he worked as an interpreter in the Native Land Court and became one of the first Maori to be admitted to the Bar.
All Black captain David Kirk kisses the Webb Ellis Cup at Eden Park after the All Blacks won the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and France on 22 June 1987.
Thirteen former All Black rugby players were killed in the First World War. The most famous of these was Sergeant Dave Gallaher who captained the All Black Originals.
New Zealanders have become accustomed to hearing the national anthem before major sporting events such as All Black tests. But many may not know that ‘God defend New Zealand’ is one of two official anthems.
Sporting ties with South Africa during the apartheid years became a source of great debate and division in New Zealand society. Kiwi Records released a 45 to mark the 1960 All Black rugby tour.
A 1981 All Black, Doug Rollerson, and flour-bomb pilot Marx Jones provide opposing views on the tour in this 2006 interview. Both are adamant that they were right in the stance they took at the time.
The procession to the New Zealand Memorial during the Le Quesnoy commemoration, which was attended by both the All Blacks and the New Zealand A team on 5 November 2000.
