Let stay in New Zealand for a moment... this is possibly my oldest picture of a kiwi team (though it comes from a modern book - and a great one ! - : "History of New Zealand Rugby Football" by A.C.Swan, 1945)... say, the Wellington Hurricanes more than 125 years ago...
Fantastic rugby kits, fine caps, some long beards... but I won't laugh at this Wellington squad... they all look athletic and resolute...
Sitting in front is captain R.G.Park, and standing from left to right are G.F.C.Campbell, P.P.Webb, John C.Bishop, capt.J.C.R.Isherwood, W.P.james, C.W.Palliser, W.R.Morris, A.B.Campbell, D.J.Stohr, J.G.Blackhett, C.France, Alan Bishop, George Bishop.
Sean Fagan, historian of Colonial Rugby and Rugby League, explains us that young rugger Cecil Wray Palliser (the tall guy in the middle behind his captain) later made his way through the NZRFU and did his best to fight against the All Gold tour in 1907-1908...
"The powerful New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) had done all it could to prevent these rugby union rebels forming their professional troupe, even to the point of involving the New Zealand Government's office in London. But this was not surprising as the agent general, Cecil Wray Palliser, was also the NZRU delegate to the (English) Rugby Football Union. Palliser used his contacts at the 'The Times' newspaper to issue statements labelling the tourists a 'phantom team', claiming that organizer Albert Henry Baskerville was 'hoodwinking the people' and saying that the players 'would bring no credit to New Zealand'. Palliser's outburst was intended to be read by Northern Union officials and convince them to withdraw their support for the Professionals tour."Full story @ Petone Rugby Club... on the other side of Wellington bay...
There is a larger pic here @ Flickr
