# 1903 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia

The 1903 New Zealand tour rugby to Australia was the fourth tour by the New Zealand national team to Australia. Nine matches were played against regional and district sides along with one test match between the two national sides, the first played by New Zealand in their history.
On 11 July, New Zealand played a preliminary match v. the Wellington Rugby Football Union at Athletic Park, won by the local team by 14–5.

## Touring party

* Manager: A.C. Norris
* Captain: Jimmy Duncan
| Name | Position | Province |
| Billy Wallace | Back | Wellington |
| Albert Asher | Wing | Auckland |
| Duncan McGregor | Wing | Canterbury |
| Dick McGregor | Centre | Auckland |
| John Stalker | Centre | Otago |
| John (Billy) Stead | Five-eighth | Southland |
| Jimmy Duncan | Five-eighth | Otago |
| Morrie Wood | Five-eighth | Canterbury |
| Arthur Humphries | Half-back | Taranaki |
| Henry Kiernan | Half-back | Auckland |
| Loftus Armstrong | Wing forward | Wairarapa |
| Reuben Cooke | Loose forward | Canterbury |
| Bernard Fanning | Lock | Canterbury |
| Dave Gallaher | Hooker | Auckland |
| Fred Given | Flanker | Otago |
| Paddy Long | Forward | Auckland |
| Archie McMinn | Loose forward | Wairarapa |
| George Nicholson | Loose forward | Auckland |
| Harry Porteous | Forward | Otago |
| John Spencer | Loose forward | Wellington |
| George Tyler | Hooker | Auckland |
| Dan Udy | Hooker | Wairarapa |

## Match summary

Complete list of matches played by New Zealand in Australia:
Test matches
| # | Date | Rival | City | Venue | Score |
| 1 | 11 Jul | Wellington RU | Wellington | Athletic Park | 5–14 |
| 2 | 18 Jul | NSW Waratahs | Sydney | Cricket Ground | 12–0 |
| 3 | 22 Jul | Combined Western District | Bathurst | | 47–7 |
| 4 | 25 Jul | NSW Waratahs | Sydney | Cricket Ground | 3–0 |
| 5 | 29 Jul | Metropolitan Union | Sydney | University Oval | 33–3 |
| 6 | 1 Aug | Queensland Reds | Brisbane | Exhibition Ground | 17–0 |
| 7 | 5 Aug | Western Queensland | Brisbane | Exhibition Ground | 29–0 |
| 8 | 8 Aug | Queensland Reds | Brisbane | Exhibition Ground | 28–0 |
| 9 | 11 Aug | Combined Northern Districts | West Maitland | Albion Cricket Ground | 53–0 |
| 10 | 15 Aug | Australia | Sydney | Cricket Ground | 22–3 |
| 11 | 19 Aug | NSW Country | Sydney | Cricket Ground | 32–0 |
Balance :
| Pl | W | D | L | Ps | Pc |
| 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 281 | 27 |

## Test match

* 15 August 1903
| Australia | 3–22 | New Zealand |
| Pen: Wickham | Report | Try: Asher, RW McGregor, Tyle Con: Wallace Pen: Wallace Goal from mark: Wallace 2 |
* Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 30,000 Referee: R Waugh (Australia)
Team details :
| Australia | New Zealand |
| John Maund | FB | FB | Billy Wallace |
| Charlie Redwood | W | W | Albert Asher |
| Sid Riley | C | C | Dick McGregor |
| Stan Wickham (capt.) | C | C | Morrie Wood |
| Charlie White | W | W | Duncan McGregor |
| Lew Evans | FH | FH | Jimmy Duncan (capt.) |
| Austin Gralton | SH | SH | Henry Kiernan |
| Sine Boland | N8 | F | Archie McMinn |
| Harold Judd | F | F | George Nicholson |
| Bill Hardcastle | F | L | Paddy Long |
| Dinny Lutge | L | L | Bernard Fanning |
| James Joyce | L | L | Reuben Cooke |
| Frank Nicholson | H | P | Dan Udy |
| Ted Larkin | H | H | George Tyler |
| Alec Burdon | P | WF | Dave Gallaher |