Rugby in New Zealand
About the New Zealand Rugby Union
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) was formed in 1892 to administer the game of Rugby Union at the national level.
The NZRU is charged with fostering, developing, administering, promoting and representing the game of Rugby in New Zealand.
More than 80 people are employed at the NZRU's headquarters in Wellington, New Zealand. These roles cover management of its nine national teams (including the All Blacks), administration of national competitions, participation in international competitions including Test matches, and assisting community Rugby throughout the country. The NZRU has direct relationships with its members, including all 26 Provincial Unions, Super 14 Franchises, sponsors, and stakeholders such as the New Zealand Government.
The NZRU is one of New Zealand's largest sports organisations, with a team of employees committed to ensuring that New Zealand's national game is run smoothly and effectively at all levels, all over New Zealand. As a modern, professional sport, Rugby encompasses a wide range of activities and functions.
About Rugby in New Zealand
The first Rugby match to be played in New Zealand took place in Nelson in May 1870, between Nelson College and Nelson Football Club. The game spread quickly and in September 1875 the first interprovincial match took place in Dunedin, between Auckland Clubs and Dunedin Clubs. In 1879, the first Provincial Unions were formed in Canterbury and Wellington.
On Saturday 16 April 1892, in a meeting held in Wellington, the New Zealand Rugby Union was formed. Inaugural members were the Provincial Unions of Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu, Marlborough, Nelson, South Canterbury, Taranaki, Wairarapa, Wanganui and Wellington.
The NZRU's strongest advocate and first secretary, Ernest Hoben, was a driving force behind the formation of the national union. In recognition of Hoben's contribution, the Ernest Hoben Room at the NZRU's offices in Wellington now displays all 26 provincial jerseys alongside photos of past All Blacks teams and the names of every All Black in New Zealand Rugby history.
In 1893, the NZRU formally adopted the black jersey as the national playing strip and selected the first NZRU-sanctioned national team, for a tour of Australia. However, the earlier New Zealand team selected to tour New South Wales in 1884 is recognised as a New Zealand team and its players recognised as All Blacks.
By 1895, with the additions of the Bush, Canterbury, Horowhenua, Otago, Poverty Bay, Southland and West Coast unions, the NZRU was considered to be a complete and united collection of all New Zealand Rugby players. However, the New Zealand Rugby map would be repeatedly redrawn in the following decades.
At the Annual Meeting in 1921, the NZRU elected its first Life Member, George Dixon, manager of the 1905 "Originals" All Blacks and the NZRU's first Chairman, appointed in 1904. In another innovation, provincial delegates met prior to the Annual Meeting to arrange representative fixtures for the season ahead, introducing a new level of national coordination.
In 1948, the NZRU was admitted as a member of the International Rugby Board (IRB), at the same time giving up its representation on England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) Committee. The NZRU had made its first bid for IRB membership in 1908.
In 1995, following the Rugby World Cup tournament in South Africa, international Rugby turned professional with the IRB's repeal of all amateurism regulations. For the first time, the NZRU negotiated with and contracted New Zealand Rugby players.
The NZRU also joined with the national unions of Australia and South Africa to form SANZAR, which sold the television rights for major southern hemisphere Rugby competitions and helped to build the commercial foundation on which professional Rugby is based. SANZAR remains an important Rugby organisation and organises the Rebel Sport Super 14 and Philips Tri Nations competitions.
Rugby remains New Zealand's most popular and best-supported sports.
On November 17, 2005, the NZRU was awarded the rights to host Rugby World Cup 2011.
For more information please visit www.nzru.co.nz.
