Weekly Review No. 263 - Rugby in New Zealand

Short Film (Full Length) – 1946

This excerpt from a post-war NFU newsreel begins at Eden Park for a match between Auckland and the ‘Kiwis’ (the army’s NZEF team), then goes on a jaunty ride through all-things rugby in NZ: from 1st XV (Wellington College), club and provincial (Ranfurly Shield in the Southland rain) clashes, to boot-making and badge selling on match day, with rugby’s centrality to the Kiwi psyche underlined throughout. “Rugby’s never over, though the crowds stream home from Eden Park or any place we play, to fans and players alike it will always be a part of our national life!”

Maybe you went to a little school and the other kids laughed at you and there weren’t enough boys to make up a team, but you could still learn to pass —even from a woman teacher!
– From the narration