1897 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia

The 1897 New Zealand tour rugby to Australia was the third tour by the New Zealand national team to Australia. Ten matches were played against regional and district sides.Chasing George Smith by David Colquhoun, 26 Jun 2014 This tour saw the first known instances in any football code anywhere in the world of jerseys or shirts with player numbers used on the back. Jersey numbers for both teams were used in at least Matches 1 and 6 (see list below) of the tour.

Touring party Manager: I. Hyams Captain: Alfred Bayly

Name Position Province Lewis Allen Back Taranaki Barney Armit Back Otago Alfred Bayly Back Taranaki William Roberts Back Wellington George Smith Back Auckland Jimmy Duncan Back Otago Ernest Glennie Back Canterbury Arthur Humphries Back Taranaki John Blair Forward Wanganui Frank Brooker Forward Canterbury Joseph Calnan Forward Wellington Robert Handcock Forward Auckland Bill Hardcastle Forward Wellington William Harris Forward Otago William McKenzie Forward Wellington Hugh Mills Forward Taranaki Thomas Pauling Forward Wellington Frederick Murray Forward Auckland Sydney Orchard Back Canterbury William Wells Forward Taranaki Alex Wilson Forward Auckland

Match summary Complete list of matches played by New Zealand in Australia:All Blacks in New South Wales and Queensland on All Blacks website

# Date Rival City Venue Score 1 3 Jul NSW Waratahs Sydney Cricket Ground 13–8 2 6 Jul Western Districts Bathurst 16–15 3 8 Jul Central–Western Districts Orange Showground 27–3 4 10 Jul NSW Waratahs Sydney Cricket Ground 8–22 5 14 Jul Northern NSW Newcastle Sports Ground 16–0 6 17 Jul Queensland Reds Brisbane 16–5 7 21 Jul Queensland Reds Brisbane Union Ground 29–5 8 24 Jul Queensland Reds Brisbane Exhibition Ground 24–6 9 27 Jul New England Armidale Showground 53–5 10 31 Jul NSW Waratahs Sydney Cricket Ground 26–3

Balance Pl W D L Ps Pc 10 9 0 1 228 72

References