All Blacks vs England
The legendary 1905–1906 tour that established New Zealand as a world-class rugby nation.
The Original All Blacks (also known simply as 'The Originals') were the first New Zealand national rugby union team to tour outside Australasia. They toured the British Isles, France and the United States of America during 1905–1906. Their opening game, on 16 September 1905, was against Devon whom they defeated 55–4. They defeated every English side that they faced, including a 16–3 victory over English county champions Durham, and a 32–0 victory over Blackheath. They defeated Scotland, Ireland, and England with the closest of the three matches their 12–7 victory over Scotland. The team's only loss of the tour was a 3–0 defeat by Wales at Cardiff Arms Park. A try claimed by winger Bob Deans was not awarded by the referee and later became a subject of controversy. However, Wales were generally considered the better team with the All Blacks playing particularly poorly in the first half of the game. They managed narrow wins against four Welsh club teams and went on to play France in France's first-ever test match. They returned to New Zealand via North America where they played two matches against Canadian teams. Overall they played a total of thirty-five matches, which included five Tests, and only lost once—the defeat by Wales.
- First Meeting
- 1888
- Primary Venue
- Twickenham Stadium (London) and Eden Park (Auckland)
- Key Trophy
- No permanent trophy; series decided by match wins
- Historical Context
- Early British Isles touring teams vs. New Zealand Natives/All Blacks
- Notable Era
- 1970s-1980s dominance and 2005 'Battle of the Bledisloe' context
Lore & Background
The 1905 All Blacks tour of Britain went on to achieve legendary status within the rugby world and New Zealand in particular. They scored 976 points and conceded only 59, and thus set the standard for future All Blacks sides. The tour also saw the first use of the All Blacks name and established New Zealand's reputation as a world-class rugby nation. Some of these players eventually defected to participate in the professional 1907–08 tour of Australia and Great Britain where they played against Northern Union sides in the sport that would eventually become known as rugby league.
In Their Own Story
The rain lashed down at Twickenham, turning the pitch into a slick battleground as the final minutes ticked away. The air was thick with the roar of eighty thousand fans, a sea of red and white clashing against the stoic black of the visitors. A loose ball bounced near the try line; an English forward lunged, his boots slipping in the mud, while an All Black winger, eyes locked on the goalposts, gathered it cleanly. The tackle came hard, a collision of bodies that echoed through the stadium, but the momentum was unstoppable. In that split second, history wasn't just written; it was forged in the mud and rain.
Reader's Guide
The first official Test match between New Zealand and England took place in 1905 during the Original All Blacks tour of the British Isles. The All Blacks defeated England in that Test, as they defeated every English side they faced on the tour.
Did You Know?
- The Original All Blacks scored 976 points and conceded only 59 on their 1905–1906 tour.
- Their only loss of the tour was a 3–0 defeat by Wales at Cardiff Arms Park.
- The tour saw the first use of the All Blacks name.
More in Great Rivalries
Elsewhere in the New Zealand All Blacks universe
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