The silver fern is endemic to New Zealand. It is used as various official symbols, including the coat of arms of New Zealand and the New Zealand one dollar coin. Besides the All Blacks, the cricket team (the Silver Ferns) uses the emblem as well.
The Haka
The All Blacks perform a haka (Māori challenge or war dance) before each international match. It began in 1888. There are variations to the type of haka, although the team usually performs Ka Mate. There has been some controversy around the haka, mostly from other rugby teams.
Stadiums around NZ
These are the stadiums that the All Blacks play in throughout the season. Forsyth Barr Stadium, a covered stadium that prevents weather impacting the game, is in Dunedin.
All Black Facts
1. The All Blacks are New Zealand’s national rugby union team and often considered the most successful team in history.
2. They start each International game with the haka, a Maori challenge dance.
3. Their name, the All Blacks, comes from their uniform, which is a black jersey with a silver fern and black shorts. They were first referred to as the All Blacks in 1905.
4. The All Blacks won the inaugural World Cup in 1987.
5. The next time they won the cup was in 2011, and the team is attempting to be the first team to win back-to-back world cups.
6. The All Blacks were the 2014 Rugby Team of the year and are presently ranked the number one team in the world. I hope that record stays in place for the rest of the year!
7. The current captain, Ritchie McCaw is the most capped player in the world. He has played 145 games (probably more by now!)
8. Rugby union was introduced to New Zealand by Charles Monro in 1870. He discovered the sport while attending Christ’s College in Finchley, England.
9. The first recorded game in New Zealand took place in Nelson between Nelson Club and Nelson College.
10. A New Zealand representative team toured Britain in 1905. They are known as The Originals.
11. An Originals rugby shirt recently went to auction in Cardiff and sold for $275000.
12. International rugby was suspended during the First World War but a New Zealand services team competed in the King’s cup, a services competition.
