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New Zealand Rugby Union
Homepage: http://www.allblacks.com/
History:
While there were claims that rugby has been played
in New Zealand well before the formation of the
nation’s Rugby Union, it was only in May
1870 when formal records stated that a game between
Nelson College and Nelson football club was under
rugby rules.
Charles John Monro, son of Sir David Monro, has
been credited for bringing the game of rugby to
New Zealand after having completed his education
in England. By 1871, organized games are played
in Wellington, spreading on to Wanganui and Auckland
in succeeding years. By 1875, rugby has become
popular throughout the colony, with games played
among Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson
and Taranaki teams.
While minor unions were formed in 1879, it was
only in 1892 when the New Zealand Rugby Union
was founded to oversee the game at the national
level. A year after its foundation, the New Zealand
Rugby Union started sending teams to compete abroad.
As early as 1905, New Zealand’s “All
Blacks” were creating waves in the rugby
scenes in Britain and in Europe. All Blacks went
on to dominate the international rugby arena from
then on. Today, New Zealand rugby is ranked number
one in the world by the International Rugby Board.
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