The History of Rugby in New Zealand (and All-Blacks, of course)

      The most important landmark for the success of the rugby in Aotearoa was the foundation of New Zealand Rugby Union, on Saturday April 16 1892. There are 26 provincial unions integrating the Rugby Union in NZ (17 in Northern Island and 9 in Southern Island), with many clubs in each division competing in both regional and national levels.

       The first rugby match in New Zealand was held in the city of Nelson in 1870 between Nelson College and Nelson Football Club. The game spread quickly in the whole country, and the first interprovincial match took place in Dunedin, between Auckland Clubs and Dunedin Clubs. In 1976, the 1st National Provincial Championship was formed, and Auckland was the greatest champion of the competition, with 16 1st-place trophies. There were three divisions in the NPC, and 27 Rugby Union under the NZRU's jurisdiction. Today, there's the national championship with 14 teams in the top competitions, a national cup, and the Heartland Championship, with 12 amateur teams.

       New Zealand rugby national team (All-Blacks) is one of the best rugby teams (Top Five) in the world, and they are among the most famous sport teams in the world, for both rugby and non-rugby fans worldwide. The first All-Black team was selected in 1884, for a tour to New South Wales. The first official NZRU-sanctioned New Zealand national team was selected,  for an 11-match tour to Australia. The team lost just once, to New South Wales in Sydney. 



Ritchie McCaw, New Zealand rugby team Captain holding, in great emotion, the Webb Ellis trophy latest year (Getty Images - SITE: ALL BLACKS: http://www.allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=history)

     

        But they regard the 1905-06 tour in United Kingdom, France and North America the most important in New Zealand rugby history, when they just lost one out of 35 matches, impressing especially the other British-colonized countries and yet-colonies at that moment, starting the fame and glory of one of the most respected rugby countries in the world.

         New Zealand are also rugby world-champions twice, and in the female events, they won the latest four world tournaments. Women national rugby team are called "Black Ferns".

         Officially, rugby became professional in NZ in 1995, following 1995 Rugby World Cup (when they lost the final match to hosts South Africa at Ellis Park Stadium, in Johannesburg), and then, since this year, NZRU negotiate with and contract New Zealand rugby players. They also have agreements with national rugby unions of Australia and South Africa (the acronym SANZAR), negotianting together television rights for southern hemisphere, and organise the Super 14 and Tri Nations competitions.

Air New Zealand (current ITM cup) champions

 

Year	Final match stadium	Champions	Runners-Up	Score
2006	Waikato Stadium	Waikato	Wellington	37-31 17-13
2007	Eden Park	Auckland	Wellington	23-14 14-8
2008	Westpac Stadium	Canterbury	Wellington	7-6 7-3
2009	AMI Stadium	Canterbury	Wellington	28-20 18-3
2010	AMI Stadium	Canterbury	Waikato	33-13 13-8
2011	Waikato Stadium	Canterbury	Waikato	12-3 9-3