page_title: Australia–New Zealand sports rivalries
section_title: Rugby union
hierarchical_section_title: Australia–New Zealand sports rivalries / Rugby union
caption_attribution_description: New Zealand in New South Wales, 1884. The first representative New Zealand rugby team, which toured New South Wales, Australia in 1884. Back row from left to right: Timothy O'Connor, Hart Udy, George Robertson, James Allan, Edward Millton, Thomas Ryan, Robert Wilson Middle row:Edwin Davy, John Taiaroa, George Carter, John Dumbell, William Millton, Henry Braddon, George Helmore, Peter Webb, Samuel Sleigh (manager) Seated in front: John Lecky, Joe Warbrick, Henry Roberts
context_page_description: Cricket, rugby union, rugby league & netball are the preeminent sporting rivalries between Australia and New Zealand. In addition, respective national teams have competed in other sports such as indoor bowls, basketball, soccer, field hockey and touch football.
context_section_description: An early 1882 New South Wales Waratahs tour of New Zealand was followed by an 1884 New Zealand rugby union tour of New South Wales and then with the history of rugby union matches between Australia and New Zealand commencing in 1903. Since 1931 that rivalry has been pursued for the prize of possession of the Bledisloe Cup. Both nations together hosted the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup and have since furthered a spirited rivalry directly and indirectly competing against each other for the sport's Webb Ellis Cup world championship trophy on every subsequent occasion. The first women's international rugby test between the Wallaroos and Black Ferns occurred in 1994. From 1996 their men's national teams compete annually in the Tri Nations, as do their elite provincial teams in Super Rugby.
caption: New Zealand rugby team in New South Wales, 1884
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