CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF MOMENTOUS DATE IN NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN RUGBY LEAGUE HISTORY.

A group of Wellington (NZ) businessmen is marking an unheralded date in International sporting history by holding a poignant wreath laying ceremony at a city cemetery on Friday 17 August.

The date marks exactly 100 years ago that the All Golds played New South Wales thus commencing professional rugby, later to become rugby league, for both both countries.

Ten of the All Golds, plus their manager were from Wellington, among the 29 'original' New Zealand Professional All Blacks.

The All Golds, on their way to England, defeated New South Wales 12-8 at rugby union, before 20,000 spectators at Sydney's Royal Agricultural Society's Ground and later enticed Australia's best player, the legendary Dally Messenger to join the touring party.

The game was played under rugby union rules because no one know precisely how the Northern Union 13 man-a-side rules worked.

The New Zealanders wore their traditional black jerseys with the silver fern and the New South Welshmen wore jerseys that were a darker shade of light blue than the orthodox light blue of New South Wales and they were emblazoned with a large white kangaroo.

Tour captain Hercules 'Bumper' Wright scored the first points a try, while another of those buried in Wellington Tom 'Angry' Cross was also a try scorer. Messenger kicked a conversion for the home side.

The ceremony in Wellington will be hosted by the Governor-General His Excellency Anand Satyanand and Minister of Internal Affairs the Hon. Rick Barker and will also involve the four Mayors in the greater Wellington region and invited Mayor Maureen Pugh from the South Island's Westland District.

Four All Gelds are buried at the Karri cemetery, tour organiser Albert Henry Baskerville who died of pneumonia in Brisbane on the way home at the age of 25, captain Hercules Wright, Tom Cross and Daniel Gilchrist.

Wreaths will be laid on all four graves. As a mark of respect for the achievements of captain Hercules Wright, who was born in Hokitika, in the South Island, Maureen Pugh will lay the wreath at his urn.

For more information:
Bernie Wood (NZ rugby league historian) bjwood@paradise.net.nz

2008 RUGBY LEAGUE CENTENARY NEWS & UPDATES