THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR
ALL BLACKS v LOS PUMAS
It’s an historic day today as Nelson hosts the All Blacks for the first time. Inside, we look back in time, as well as forward to tonight’s clash.
It could have come from the mouth of the great commentators, like Cliff Morgan or Bill McLaren.
With the benefit of hindsight, the occasion deserved such narration.
But it is an account from ‘‘an enthusiastic football player’’ that provided an enduring report of the country’s first official rugby game, played between the Nelson Club and Nelson College at the Botanics on May 14, 1870.
This weekend, the birthplace of New Zealand rugby will host its first All Black test match at Trafalgar Park, 148 years later and only a few blocks from that historic venue.
As New Zealand’s interest in the game of rugby developed, so too has the significance of that first fixture.
The teams had encountered each other in 1869, under a hybrid of Association and Australian Rules football in a match that took place over three afternoons.
By 1870, both club and college had embraced the rules of rugby football at the suggestion of Charles Monro, which led to the historic fixture being arranged.
But while plaques and information boards have been erected at the site, sports fans are now more likely to see football and cricket played at the Botanics ground – located at the Centre of New Zealand.
However, as part of the Rugby World Cup festivities in 2011, a reenactment of the first game of rugby was organised for September 20 at the Botanics, just before the Italy v Russia pool match at Trafalgar Park.
As it was in 1870, the 18 a-side game featured the Nelson College 1st XV and past or present players from the Nelson Rugby Club and was played according to the Rugby Laws for 1870, as introduced by Charles Monro.
Occurring 68 years before the first televised rugby match and 135 years before social media took firstperson footage to the next level, the only evidence of that first match is in written form or in retrospective portraits.
The city’s two main papers of the day, The Colonist and Nelson Examiner, printed match reports of the game, with some vivid blow by blow commentary to rival today’s live blogs.
‘‘Almost as soon as the ball is amongst the town players, the College have followed up, when a kick sends it over their heads again, and then it is seen in one place, and then another, the whole field in pursuit.
‘‘Now some player runs with it, and a general scrimmage ensues; it is all shove, pull, rush and and roll in a confused mass till ‘down’ is cried.’’
Records show that the Nelson Club won the match 2-0 – inside a solitary afternoon – thanks to goals from Messrs Drew and Clark.
The Examiner’s report states that ‘‘College played well and made a hard fight of it, determined not to give up, but at last a sudden rush by Monro and Clark decided the matter, the latter managing to kick a goal.’’
England and Scotland played the first international match one year later. New Zealand led the world in moving to 15 players a side in 1875, before catching test match fever with the All Blacks first international in 1903.
After three World Cup wins, 571 tests and Jackson Hemopo named as the 1173rd person to wear the black shirt with silver fern, the legacy created on that day in Nelson is set to return home come kick-off tonight.
As part of today’s fan festivities in the city centre, Nelson Provincial Museum is giving locals and visitors the chance to reconnect with the region’s rugby history.
All Things Rugby will take place today between 10am and 4pm and weaves in with the myriad of entertainment occurring along the designated fan trail leading to the match venue.
The region’s most popular museum destination will be putting up a range of rugby-related activities, ranging from a pop-up exhibition on the history of rugby in Nelson, face-painting for young and old fans, a selfie photo competition, and special offers in the museum shop.