New Zealand Tour Souvenir Paper Hankerchief (1905) by Burgess William and Co. LondonWelsh Rugby Union
The First All Blacks
The All Blacks were an outstanding team from New Zealand that toured the British Isles for the first time in 1905. They played brilliant rugby in matches in England, Scotland and Ireland winning 27 out of 27 matches including international matches with other home unions.
New Zealand Jersey (1905) by Wallace & Gibson, The Kash, Next Evening Post, WellingtonWelsh Rugby Union
On 16th December 1905 New Zealand played a Wales team which was at that time the best team in the Northern Hemisphere. The match was seen as for the unofficial championship of the rugby world.
New Zealand Team Postcard (1905)Welsh Rugby Union
In front of a record 40,000 strong crowd at Cardiff Arms Park, New Zealand performed their traditional haka and in response the Welsh crowd sung the Welsh National anthem for the first time.
Welsh Rugby Team Photographs (1906-01-15) by South Wales Daily NewsWelsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Team
The Welsh team contained a backline full of talented footballers: captain Gwyn Nicholls and Rhys Gabe in the centre, wingers Willie Llewellyn and Teddy Morgan, half backs Dicky Owen and Percy Bush, and a pack of forwards forged in the industrialised landscape of South Wales containing the likes of Will Joseph, Dai “Tarw” Jones, “Twyber” Travers and Jehoida Hodges.
Welsh Team Postcard (1905)Welsh Rugby Union
The Match
The game that followed was a tough battle played at great pace between two highly skilled teams. Half way through the first half a planned move from the scrum started by the brilliant Owen led to Dr Teddy Morgan diving over the New Zealand line for a try which gave Wales a precious lead.
The Welsh team retained their lead well into the second half with stern defence. A break away by All Black centre Bob Deans appeared to have given New Zealand a try which would have drawn the match. Scottish referee John Dallas decided that Deans had crawled over the tryline after being legitimately tackle by Welsh centre Rhys Gabe and disallowed the score.
Welsh Rugby Football Union Winners Cigarette Case (1905)Welsh Rugby Union
Wales defended well to stop all future All Black attacks. At full time the victorious Welsh team were engulfed by the delighted home crowd and taken from the field on the shoulders of supporters. The Welsh players were instantly heroes and remained so for the rest of their days.
Wales v New Zealand Winners Medal (1905)Welsh Rugby Union
News of the Welsh victory spread quickly in Wales. It was celebrated throughout the country. By beating the previously unbeaten New Zealanders, the Welsh team created history and placed rugby at the centre of Welsh life.
