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17 unusual facts about New Zealand national rugby union team


Agustín Creevy

Creevy is known as a mobile hooker with some very good ball handling skills for a hooker, his good offloading skills have led him to become called "Sonny Bill" Creevy (after the All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams who's trademark is offloading) by some Montpellier fans.

All-Blacks Nunataks

Named by the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition (1960–61) for the well known New Zealand national rugby union team.

David Bain

Bain maintained his innocence and began a lengthy campaign to have his case reheard, spearheaded by Joe Karam, a former member of the All Blacks.

David H. Cooke

David played his final match for England on 8 June 1985 at Athletic Park, Wellington in the New Zealand vs England 2nd Test on that tour.

Hiroki Yuhara

Yuhara was a member of the Japan team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, playing one match against eventual winners the All Blacks.

Honor Carter

As of January 2013, she resides in Auckland where she is employed as a Marketing Manager for DB Breweries, and is married to Dan Carter, player of the New Zealand national rugby union team.

Ian Madigan

In the November end of year internationals, he made a further three substitute appearances against Samoa, Australia, and New Zealand; a dramatic encounter in which Ireland were denied an historic first-ever win over the All Blacks in the final minute of the Test match.

Marcello d'Orey

He got injured in his only presence, at the loss to New Zealand (13-108), in the first time the two teams played, missing the rest of the tournament.

Murray Taylor

He played thirty matches for the All Blacks in the late 1970s and early 1980s; seven of these were test matches.

National team appearances in the Rugby World Cup

The best result by hosts is champions, achieved by New Zealand in 1987 and 2011, and by South Africa in 1995.

New Zealand football team

New Zealand national rugby union team, better known as the All Blacks, administered by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.

New Zealand national rugby team

New Zealand national rugby union team, better known as the All Blacks, administered by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.

Nic Mayhew

As his father was born in England, Nic is qualified to play for both England and New Zealand.

Piet Malan

Malan's sole cap came at the age of 30 on 17 September 1949 against the All Blacks at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth, a game the Springboks went on to win 11-8 to take the series 4-0.

Shon Siemonek

After leaving high-school Siemonek continued his rugby union career at Hutt Old Boys Marist Rugby Football Club in Lower Hutt where he played with the All Black Piri Weepu, and Hurricane Jeremy Thrush.

Stu Wilson

He played for Wellington and the All Blacks, captaining the national team in the 1983 tour of Scotland and England.

Taihei Ueda

Ueda was a member of the Japan team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, playing one match against eventual winners the All Blacks.


1981 New Zealand rugby union tour of Romania and France

The 1981 New Zealand rugby union tour of Romania and France was a series of ten matches played by the New Zealand national rugby union team (the All Blacks) in Romania and France in October and November 1981.

Adam Ashley-Cooper

Against Italy, Ireland, USA, Russia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Wales at the 2011 Rugby World Cup Ashley-Cooper played outside centre (13), on the wings (both 11 & 14), and fullback (15).

Chris Cahill

He is the brother of Australian international Tim Cahill, who currently plays for New York Red Bulls and cousin of Ben Roberts (New Zealand Kiwis), Joe Stanley (New Zealand All Blacks), and Jeremy Stanley (New Zealand All Blacks).

Des Connor

Desmond Michael Connor (born 9 August 1935 in Ashgrove, QLD) is an Australian former rugby union halfback who represented internationally for both the Australian and New Zealand national rugby union teams.

Devin Toner

In November 2010, he was selected by Ireland's head coach Declan Kidney to make his International debut for Ireland against Samoa on the 13th of November 2010 during the 2010 end of year rugby tests He then came off the bench against the All Blacks and Argentina.

FNB Stadium

FNB stadium hosted its first rugby union match in 2010, the Tri Nations match between South Africa and New Zealand, won by the latter.

Fumiaki Tanaka

After initially being limited to mainly to substitute appearances behind All Blacks scrum half Aaron Smith, in Tanaka's second start in Super Rugby he was highly praised for his performance against the Blues which even drew praise from the IRB CEO Brett Gosper.

Grant Kereama

In 2005 it was revealed that Kereama was the donor of a kidney for former All Black, Jonah Lomu.

Ian Birtwell

He was the coach of British Columbia from 1987 to 1989, and had the honour of coaching them in a match with New Zealand.

Morné du Plessis

Playing at lock, Felix made his debut for South Africa on 16 July 1949 at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town against the touring All Blacks, lead by Fred Allen.

Patrick Lambie

On 6 October 2012 he played as reserve fullback (taking the field at the 64th minute into the game) versus New Zealand at the FNB Stadium, Soweto at the age of only 21.

Peter Thorburn

He worked previously for New Zealand national rugby union team and was also a coach, then Director of Rugby at English club Bristol Rugby from 2001 to 2003.

Roy Prosser

Prosser played 25 Test matches: seven against South Africa, six against New Zealand, five against France, three against Ireland and one each against England, Scotland, Wales and Fiji.