The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league since 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. The team's colours are black and white, with the dominant colour being black, and the players perform a haka before every match they play as a challenge to their opponents. The New Zealand Kiwis are currently second in the IRL World Rankings. Since the 1980s, most New Zealand representatives have been based overseas, in the professional National Rugby League and Super League competitions. Before that, players were selected entirely from clubs in domestic New Zealand leagues.
Dally Messenger, 1907 The one Australian All Black
Michael Joseph Savage Prime Minister 1935–40 was the patron of NZ Rugby League.
The final home Test for Great Britain against New Zealand, played at Wigan RLFC's DW stadium in 2007
Rugby League World Cup
Videos
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league tournament contested by the top national men's representative teams. The tournament is administered by the International Rugby League and was first held in France in 1954, which was the first World Cup held for any form of rugby football.
New Zealand (TL), France (TR), Great Britain (BL), and Australia (BR) shirts from the inaugural 1954 tournament. They were the four nations to compete in the competition until the 1980s.
New Zealand lifting the Paul Barrière Trophy after winning the 2008 tournament
Australia lifting the Paul Barrière Trophy after winning the 2021 tournament