All Blacks

The New Zealand national rugby union team represents New Zealand in rugby union internationally and is one of the strongest teams in the world. Its players are also known as the All Blacks. Active since 1892 (and internationally since 1903), it is the representative that boasts the largest number of players admitted to the International Rugby Hall of Fame.

It participates annually, together with Argentina, Australia and South Africa, in the Rugby Championship, the "southern" equivalent of the Six Nations. In the same competition New Zealand and the Australian national team compete for the Bledisloe Cup, while the All Blacks and Springboks compete for the Freedom Cup.

The first international competition dates back to 1884 against Wellington XV, New South Wales, while the first test match dates back to 1903, with a victory against Australia. New Zealand subsequently played a tour of the Northern Hemisphere in 1905, during which they were defeated only by Wales in Cardiff.

The All Blacks saw their first winning streak over arch rivals South Africa end in New Zealand in 1956. A decade later they achieved their longest winning streak by winning 17 matches between 1965 and 1970. The British and Irish Lions they took their only winning streak over the All Blacks in 1971, but seven years later the All Blacks completed their first Grand Slam (wins over England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales on the same tour).

New Zealand has won the Rugby World Cup three times:
winners 3 times: in 1987, 2011, 2015.
second: in 1995.
third: in 1991, 2003.
quarterfinals: in 1999.
quarterfinals: in 2007.

Three Nations:
winners 10 times: in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010.
seconds: in 2000, 2001, 2009, 2011.
third: in 1998, 2004.

The Rugby Championship:
winners 3 times: in 2012, 2013, 2014.
second: in 2015.

Bledisloe Cup:
winners 42 times: in 1932, 1936, 1938, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1983, 19885, 19884, 19884, 1 , 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015.

All Blacks videos: