New Zealand, which considers rugby as a religion gains the top most position in the International Rugby Board world ranking. Being the winner of the 1987 Rugby World Cup , the New Zealand rugby team is the finalist of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the semifinalist in 1991, 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cup s.
This well playing team has won all the 26 rugby matches out of the 31 matches played and has scored 1,398 points. Nicknamed All Blacks, the team competes annually with Australia and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series. They have been Tri-Nations champions seven times in the tournament's eleven-year history. They have also completed a Grand Slam twice and hold the Bledisloe Cup.
The team competed internationally in 1893 against New South Wales. Led by head coach Graham Henry, played their first Test match in 1903. The All Blacks completed their first series win over arch-rivals South Africa. The New Zealand Rugby Football Union was formed in the year 1892.
New Zealand rugby team enjoys the honor of being the first to win the inaugural Rugby World Cup 1987 . Identified in the ground with black jersey, back shorts and black socks with the emblem of Silver fern, this rugby team is striving hard repeat their 1987 history.
The All Blacks perform a haka (Maori dance) before each international match. In 1991, the team lost their semi-final to Australia. In 1995, they lost the finals to hosts South Africa and in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks were thrashed by hosts Australia in the semi-final match. The New Zealand team is the only team to have reached the semifinals in every rugby world cup tournament.
