"The Originals" "All Blacks", 1905 tour and controversial loss to Wales (15948451815)

The original All Blacks were known simply as "The Originals" and 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 first game was against Devon on 16 September 1905 whom they defeated 55–4. The British newspapers were taken by surprise at this win, so much so that some newspapers in Britain printed that Devon had scored 55 points and not the All Blacks. The team went on to defeat every English side that they faced during the tour, including a 16–3 victory over English county champions Durham, and a 32–0 victory over Blackheath. They also 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 on the 16 December 1905. The loss was highly controversial as during the second half New Zealand wing Billy Wallace made a run, then passed to centre Bob Deans who raced to the goal line and scored a try that would have brought them level (this is Bob Deans' and the New Zealand version), was tackled a few inches short of the line (this is the Welsh and referee's version). That non try has been controversial and argued about endlessly since.

Archives New Zealand Reference: ABHT W3920 item 31 & SEDDON3 ACHW 8635 item 50

For updates on our On This Day series and news from Archives New Zealand, follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ArchivesNZ

Material from Archives New Zealand