Born from a dropped newspaper, the Kiwis became a global rugby league powerhouse

History · Published 6 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1906, a Wellington postal worker spotted a report about a massive rugby league crowd in a discarded newspaper. That chance encounter sparked the formation of New Zealand's professional rugby team. Often called the All Golds, they pioneered a legacy of international competition that continues to define the sport today.

The origins of New Zealand rugby league are rooted in professional ambition rather than amateur tradition. In 1906, Albert Baskerville, a clerk at the Wellington Post Office, discovered the massive commercial potential of the Northern Union code after seeing a newspaper report about a match attended by over 40,000 people. Alongside All Black George William Smith, Baskerville recruited players for a professional tour of Great Britain. This venture was met with fierce resistance from the New Zealand Rugby Union, which attempted to undermine the team's credibility through government channels. Despite this, the squad—dubbed the All Golds—sailed for Australia and Britain, effectively launching professional rugby in the Southern Hemisphere.

The name 'All Golds' was initially a derogatory jab at the players for accepting payment, contrasting them with the amateur 'All Blacks'. While the team struggled to adapt to Northern Union rules during their 1907 tour, their presence significantly boosted the finances and profile of the game abroad. By 1926, the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) faced legal pressure from the Rugby Union over the 'All Blacks' moniker. The press had already begun using 'Kiwis'—referencing the bird on the team's jersey—a name that eventually became the official title in 1938.

Throughout the 20th century, the Kiwis evolved from a touring curiosity into a world-class force. They competed in every Rugby League World Cup since the inaugural 1954 tournament, eventually securing their first title in 2008. The team’s history is marked by both high-profile victories, such as their 1962 record-breaking 19–0 win over Britain, and periods of internal turbulence, including the 1926–27 tour disputes that led to life bans for seven players. Today, the Kiwis remain a dominant entity in international rugby league, consistently ranking among the top nations in the world.

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