26 Facts About All Blacks

New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks, represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport.

All Blacks compete with Argentina, Australia and South Africa in the Rugby Championship, and have won the trophy nineteen times in the competition's 27-Year history.

World Rugby has named New Zealand the World Rugby Team of the Year ten times since the award was initiated in 2001, and an All Blacks Black has won the World Rugby Player of the Year award ten times over the same period.

Fifteen former All Blacks have been inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.

In contrast to the success of the Originals on the field, the team did antagonise some in the Home Nations' rugby establishment; both administrators and the press complained that the All Blacks did not play the game within the amateur and gentlemanly spirit promoted by the International Rugby Football Board.

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The All Blacks won their following home games to successfully defend the Tri-Nations Series for 2007.

In 2010, the All Blacks won the Tri-Nations Series for the tenth time after three successive victories against South Africa, and won the Bledisloe Cup after consecutive victories against Australia.

The All Blacks went through their pool matches undefeated, and after defeating Argentina, and then Australia, faced France in the final.

The All Blacks went undefeated in the inaugural tournament, and went through the year unbeaten until their last match of the year, where they lost to England at Twickenham.

At the 2014 Rugby Championship, the All Blacks drew with Australia and lost to South Africa in the away matches, but won the other four matches and the tournament.

At the shortened 2015 Rugby Championship, the All Blacks lost to Australia and was runner-up in the competition.

All Blacks went undefeated at the 2016 Rugby Championship, claiming bonus points at each match, under new captain and Number 8, Kieran Read and vice-captain and fullback Ben Smith.

The All Blacks won the Tri-Nations, as Australia and Argentina had both drawn twice.

In 1905, the All Blacks began the tradition of using Ka Mate, a haka composed in the 19th century by Te Rauparaha, leader of the Ngati Toa tribe.

The 1924 All Blacks used a specially composed haka, Ko Niu Tireni, but later All Blacks reverted to using Ka Mate.

The All Blacks hold the record for most consecutive test wins at home – a 47-match winning streak, achieved between 2009 and 2017.

The All Blacks have won every World Cup pool match they have played, and finished top of their pool in all nine tournaments.

Seventeen former All Blacks have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame: Sir Fred Allen, Don Clarke, Sean Fitzpatrick, Grant Fox, Dave Gallaher, Sir Michael Jones, Ian Kirkpatrick, Sir John Kirwan, Sir Brian Lochore, Jonah Lomu, Richie McCaw, Sir Colin Meads, Graham Mourie, George Nepia, Joe Warbrick, Sir Bryan Williams and Sir Wilson Whineray.

All Blacks eventually moved on to coaching New Zealand between 1966 and 1968.

All Blacks scored 16 tries in his test career, a record at the time.

All Blacks captained 19 of his 21 tests and 57 of his 61 overall All Blacks matches between 1976 and 1982.

All Blacks was knighted in 1999 for his lifetime services to rugby.

All Blacks played in the 1987 World Cup after incumbent Andy Dalton was injured, and was appointed All Blacks captain in 1992, continuing in the role until his retirement in 1997.

All Blacks was the youngest player ever to appear in a test as an All Black, making his debut at age 19 years, 45 days in 1994.

All Blacks added eight more tries in the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

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All Blacks surpassed Andrew Mehrtens' All Black record total of 967 points from 70 tests in the All Blacks' win over England on 21 November 2009.