The first New Zealand team was selected in 1884, for a tour to New South Wales (NSW), Australia. It was a privately organised selection as the New Zealand Rugby Union was founded not until eight years later. On 22 May 1884, before the tour start, the team played a test match against the Wellington Rugby Football Union team, winning 9 to 0.Match centre - All Blacks v Wellington XV on AllBlacks website

During the tour the team recorded eight wins in eight matches, all in NSW. The most popular player among the Sydney public was Māori footballer John Taiaroa, with street posters billing his name alone as a draw-card. The team performed a war cry (haka) described by The New Zealand Herald as "the New Zealand football cry, 'Ake, ake, ake, ake, kia kaha' (for ever, for ever keep up your courage; go on with vigour.)"

After the tour Henry Braddon and James O'Donnell did not return to New Zealand with the team, deciding to remain in Sydney where they continued to play rugby union and later entered New South Wales politics.

Touring party Manager: S.E. Sleigh Captain: William Millton

Name Position Province Henry Braddon Fullback Otago George Helmore Utility back Canterbury Thomas Ryan Three quarter Auckland Joe Warbrick Three quarter Auckland Edwin Davy Half-back Wellington John Dumbell Utility Back, Forward Wellington Henry Roberts Half-back Wellington Jack Taiaroa Half-back Otago James Allan Forward Otago George Carter Forward Auckland John Lecky Forward Auckland Edward Millton Forward Canterbury William Millton Forward Canterbury Timothy O'Connor Forward Auckland James O’Donnell Forward Otago George Robertson Forward Otago Hart Udy Forward Wellington Peter Webb Forward Wellington Robert Wilson Forward Canterbury

Match summary Complete list of matches played by New Zealand in New South Wales:

# Date Rival City Venue Score 1 28 May Cumberland County Sydney Parramatta Ground 33–0 2 31 May NSW Waratahs Sydney Agricultural Society Ground 11–0 3 3 Jun Combined Suburbs Sydney Cricket Ground 23–5 4 5 Jun Northern Districts Newcastle Sports Ground 29–0 5 7 Jun NSW Waratahs Sydney Agricultural Society Ground 21–2 6 11 Jun Western Districts Bathurst Bathurst Ground 11–0 7 12 Jun Wallaroo & University NSW Sydney Cricket Ground 23–10 8 14 Jun NSW Waratahs Sydney Agricultural Society Ground 16–0

Balance Pl W D L Ps Pc 8 8 0 0 167 17

Match details Cumberland

Team detailsNew Zealand: R. J. Wilson, P. P. Webb, G. S. Robertson, J. O'Donnell, T. B. O'Connor, W. V. Millton (capt), E. B. Millton, J. G. Lecky, J. Allan, H. Roberts, J. T. Dumbell, G. H. N. Helmore, J. G. Taiaroa, T. Ryan, J. A. Warbrick

Waratahs

Team detailsNew Zealand: P. P. Webb, H. Udy, G. S. Robertson, J. O'Donnell, T. B. O'Connor, W. V. Millton (capt), J. G. Lecky, G. Carter, J. Allan, H. Roberts, G. H. N. Helmore, J. G. Taiaroa, J. A. Warbrick, T. Ryan, H. Y. Braddon

Combined Suburbs

Team detailsNew Zealand: R. J. Wilson, P. P. Webb, H. Udy, G. S. Robertson, J. O'Donnell, E. B. Millton, J. G. Lecky, G. Carter, J. Allan, J. G. Taiaroa, J. T. Dumbell, E. Davy, J. A. Warbrick, T. Ryan, H. Y. Braddon

Northern Districts

Match Report, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate of 6 Jun 1884

NEW ZEALANDERS v. COMBINED NEWCASTLE TEAM.

VICTORY FOR THE VISITORS.

New Zealand played a combined Newcastle team at the Newcastle Cricket Club ground, winning the match 29–0.

About daylight signs of rain appeared, and up till breakfast hour a few drops fell. Later on, heavy clouds banked up, and showers commenced, the wind hauling to the south. Subsequently, the sun conquered, and bright warm weather lasted until noon; when once more the horizon darkened, and a renewal of the downpour commenced. Ten minutes before the advertised time for kicking off (3 p.m.) building rain squalls were flying across the sward from the southward, and whispers went the round that postponement was inevitable.

This however, was not to be: seeing that the visitors are booked to play at Bathurst to-morrow. Exactly one and a quarter minute past 3 p.m., while the grandstand was packed like a sardine case with beauty and muscle, both sexes vainly seeking to ward off the rain, and outsiders, huddled like so many storm overtaken bandicoots under every available shelter-place, the teams emerged, and took their positions. Newcastle won the toss and elected to play from the north side.

It was clear to onlookers that from the jump our boys were outweighted and had an uphill two hours' work before them. The struggle opened with a strong defence (so much of it as could be caught is glimpse of between the squalls), and after a little by-play the New Zealanders forced down; following up speedily by a second. The local men followed suit, and J. Woods was put on to kick off; but proved unlucky, owing to the slippery state of the ball; which was every moment whirling through water-pools or greasy mud. Fred Lockhead led off with a good attempt at a run in, and on the ball going up, Greaves held his own with some careful dribbling for the Newcastilians. A scrimmage followed-the first of the day by which the superior weight and centralized play of our visitors commenced to shew their generalship in working up being of thorough draught-board fashion. "Tommy" Johnson's weight and "go" shewed up 'brilliantly when called on, but the ball found its way down to the visitors' end for a long while. Before anything decisive had occurred, a second blinding squall came up, rendering the sward a seething mass of spray, water, and foam; thunder growling angrily all around, and forked lightning flashing at all points of the compass, whilst the contestants flitted around like so many grey ghosts chasing a shadow. Under such circumstances genuine play was all but out of the question. No grip of the ball was obtainable. When caught it slipped like an eel; and on colliding or falling, player after player shot like Scotch curling stones several yards along the turf before bringing up to a standstill. The Newcastle men soon after scored their first and only touch-down; the kick-off. being entrusted to J. Wood, who made a good attempt for a goal. Following off, Greaves made a splendid lift, which Johnson backed up by nearly getting a touch-down; but a New Zealand man, slipping in, made a big dash and forced down. W. Langwill secured the leather after a few scrimmages, and with a brilliant run and dodging carried it opposite the grandstand but got out of bounds. Wood was next to score for the home team, but the visitors again forced down five minutes later, near the goal. The N.Z. captain was soon after sent heavily to mother earth, when nearly finishing a smart run in, but further force down was called. "Get into the scrimmage better, blues" followed as the order, which was well responded to; despite game responses by the local men. Ford and Langwill and W. Laing essayed, but the latter was cleverly floored by the Maori, just before getting in. The next force down was made at the northern end, followed speedily by another, after some good generalship. The kick missed but following an immediate scrimmage a blue skied the ball clean over the fences and scored first goal. J. Woods kicked off and after hard play, the next goal was scored by a blue through a chance kick out of a scrimmage, at twenty minutes to 4 p.m. The Newcastle forwards at this. stage began to improve, working well through them. Laing again got it and made another dash, but minus result when half-time was called.

After a short interval, play resumed in muddy conditions. Taiaroa kicked a goal for New Zealand, while a subsequent Newcastle kick over the posts was disallowed. New Zealand later added a touchdown and a goal before Taiaroa scored another try near the end of the match. The contemporary report also noted that Taiaroa had previously fractured his collarbone three times.

The actual result was a win for the New Zealanders by five goals and three tries to nil. Two of the goals dropped from the field. Team detailsNew Zealand: R. J. Wilson, P. P. Webb, H. Udy, G. S. Robertson, J. O'Donnell, W. V. Millton (capt), E. B. Millton, G. Carter, J. Allan, H. Roberts, J. T. Dumbell, J. G. Taiaroa, G. H. N. Helmore, T. Ryan, J. A. Warbrick

Waratahs

Team detailsNew Zealand: R. J. Wilson, P. P. Webb, H. Udy, G. S. Robertson, J. O'Donnell, T. B. O'Connor, W. V. Millton (capt), E. B. Millton, J. Allan, H. Roberts, J. A. Warbrick, J. G. Taiaroa, G. H. N. Helmore, T. Ryan, H. Y. Braddon

References