1907–08 New Zealand rugby tour of Australia and Great Britain
[3] However, in New Zealand some discontent about the state of rugby union's rules and the lack of ability to compensate players for time lost from work were beginning to rise.In addition the Originals were only paid 3/- a day expenses while on tour, a token amount when the Rugby Union was making such a profit.[3] He had also in 1907 published a book entitled Modern Rugby Football: New Zealand Methods which explained how to play the game and was widely read.He was inspired to launch a tour to play the clubs in the Northern Union by an article in the Daily Mail written by F W Cooper.Baskiville had conversations with several prominent rugby players, including the famous Original George William Smith who had talked to Northern Union officials and J J Giltinan about starting the code in Sydney.[3] Smith's role in starting the game in Australasia was crucial as he had a wide set of connections and was a well known sporting celebrity, being an Original, a world class sprinter and a champion jockey.On 26 March 1907 it advised its member clubs that it was "very favourably disposed" to the tour and suggested that the tourists be paid 70% of the gates with a guarantee of £3000.[3] Baskiville assembled a team of selectors; Duncan McGregor, Massa Johnston, Hercules Richard Wright and George William Smith, and they began to think about the type of players they wished to bring on the tour.Knowing the rule changes that the Northern Union had made to their game the selectors knew line-out specialists would not be required and decided to favour players with ample amounts of speed and acceleration.In the end the tour included nine internationals and fourteen provincial players, a large number selected from the Wellington and Auckland teams that had recently been battling over the Ranfurly Shield.It is unclear when the decision to invite Messenger was made, with some reports saying that he was recommended to Baskiville in New Zealand by George Gillett when he had to withdraw from the touring party due to injury.[3] The arrival of the team was met with great anticipation in the Yorkshire and Lancashire, areas that had been devoid of international competition for so long.The RMS Ortona, carrying the touring side, berthed in Marseilles, France and the squad took a train to Boulogne before they boarded the Empress.[3] The tour then moved on to Lancashire where the team played Widnes at Naughton Park before a new ground record crowd, resulting in a 26–11 victory.Also at this time the New Zealand team, with an increasing list of injuries, moved their base from Leeds to Ilkley, a spa town in Yorkshire.Their next match was against Keighley, one of the top teams in the league, on Guy Fawkes Day and Smith, Messenger, Billy Wynyard, Cross and Gilchrist were all unavailable.The second test was the first time that rugby league had been played in London, and as a result the match was deemed to be important for the Northern Union's chances of expanding into the rest of England.This seemed to inspire the All Black forwards and they pushed hard in a scrum near the British line, resulting in Massa Johnston crashing over to score the winning try.The side then prepared to return to New Zealand via Australia, although several players opted to stay behind and sign professional contracts with British clubs.[7] The tourists stayed in Sydney long enough to watch the first round of the new premiership season, which began on Easter Monday, before heading north to Newcastle.Sydney had produced a very warm day for the match and the Australian ground suited the open passing of the new Northern Rugby Football Union's rules.The first test, Australia's inaugural rugby league international, was shaping up to be an even encounter, with the tourists having regained their match fitness and most of the newly formed Australian side having been involved in the preceding series with New South Wales.AUSTRALIA: Charlie Hedley, Frank Cheadle, Jim Devereux, Dally Messenger, Doug McLean, Albert Rosenfeld, Mick Dore, Ash Hennessy (c), Larry O'Malley, Bob Tubman, Dinny Lutge, Robert Graves, Johnny Rosewell.With full-time nearing Messenger had two penalty shots but uncharacteristically missed both and the New Zealanders held on to win the first ever test match between the two sides 11–10.The Second half was no easier for the Australians, and the All Blacks ran out winners 24–12 in one of the most decisive test match displays ever put on by a New Zealand side.AUSTRALIA: Charlie Hedley, Jim Devereux, Dally Messenger, Frank Cheadle, Tommy Anderson, Albert Rosenfeld, Arthur Halloway, Bill Hardcastle, Sandy Pearce, Billy Cann, Lou Jones, Robert Graves, Dinny Lutge (c).[1] Other members of the touring party soon returned to join George William Smith, Lance Todd, Duncan McGregor and Joseph Lavery who were all playing in the Northern Union.In some ways the New Zealanders were too successful as the number of them signing professional contracts meant that there were fewer players to help establish the game back home.The touring party legally formed itself into an organisation (The New Zealand All Black Rugby Football team) and each played invested £50 of their own money, quite a sum at that time.This consisted of Jim Gleeson, Harry Palmer, Duncan McGregory, Massa Johnston, Lance Todd, Bumper Wright and Bert Baskiville.
1907 New Zealand rugby union tour of AustraliaNew Zealandrugby footballersAustraliaCeylonEnglandNorthern Unionrugby leagueNew Zealand national rugby league teamestablishing rugby leaguerugby uniontouredAlbert BaskivilleWellingtonGeorge SmithNew South WalesNew South Wales Rugby LeagueDally Messenger2007 All Golds TourHistory of rugby leagueThe Original All BlacksNew Zealand Rugby UnionAlbert Henry BaskivilleDaily MailGeorge William SmithJ J Giltinan1888-1889 New Zealand Native football teamNew Zealand Post OfficeNZ TruthNew Zealand HeraldamateurismDuncan McGregorMassa JohnstonHercules Richard Wrightline-outprovincial rugby"Opai" AsherGeorge A. GillettAucklandRanfurly ShieldMessengerPeter MoirNew South Wales rugby union sideNew Zealand rugby union teamRoyal Agricultural Society GroundRichard WynyardGeorge GillettMelbourneprofessional district rugby football competition in Sydneyrugby union New Zealand sidecricketYorkshireLancashireRMS OrtonaMarseillesFranceBoulogneFolkestoneNorthern Rugby Football UnionLondonEnglish Rugby UnionHunsletBramleyMcLaren FieldNorthern Union rulesHuddersfieldLance ToddWidnesNaughton ParkBroughton RangersWakefieldWakefield Trinitytest matchesCrystal Palace Football ClubChelsea Football ClubStamford BridgeWhaddon RoadCheltenhamassociation footballIlkleyspa townSt. HelensRichard SeddonMerthyr TydfilKeighleyGuy Fawkes DayBarrowCumberlandKingston upon HullHull F.C.OldhamRuncorn RFCDewsburyBatleySwintonRochdale HornetsHalifaxChallenge CupWarringtonSalfordWelsh amateur internationalChick JenkinsDai ThomasTom LlewellynBert JenkinsLlewellyn TreharneDavid BeynonJohnny ThomasDai JonesDavid DaviesOliver BurghamGeorge W. ThomasDai ReesHowell de FrancisHubert TurtillHarold RoweArthur KellyWilliam WynyardEdgar WrigleyWilliam MackrellDan GilchristCharles PearceAngry CrossHercules WrightThomasFrancis