Many of the national sports teams of New Zealand have been given nicknames, officially or otherwise, based on the iconic status of the All Blacks rugby team, and (mostly in the case of female teams) the silver tree fern (Cyathea dealbata) of their logo. The practice became controversial when Badminton New Zealand used the name "Black Cocks" for a period in 2004.
Teams NicknameTeamNotesAll BlacksRugby union (men)During the Originals tour a London newspaper reported that the New Zealanders played as if they were "all backs" which, due to a typographical error, subsequently became "All Blacks". However, the Express and Echo in Devon, reporting after the Originals match there, referred to "The All Blacks, as they are styled by reason of their sable and unrelieved costume."All WhitesFootball (men)Named because the team wears white, due to a former FIFA regulation reserving black for referees.Beach BlacksBeach volleyball (men)Beach FernsBeach volleyball (women)Black BroomsQuidditch/Quadball Disbanded 2023Black CapsCricket (men)Since January 1998, after a competition to choose a name for the team.Black DragonsDragon BoatSince early 2017Black FernsRugby union (women)Black FinsSurf Life Saving team (mixed gender)Underwater hockey (men)Black FoilsSailGP teamBlackjacks/Black JacksLawn Bowls (men and women)derived from jack ballBlack Socks/SoxSoftball (men)Also derived from similarly named American teamsBlack SticksField hockey (men and women)DiamondblacksBaseball (men)Also derived from the similarly named Major League Baseball team and a reference to a baseball diamondE BlacksEsportsFootball FernsFootball (women)Futsal Whites/FutsalwhitesFutsal (men)Ice BlacksIce hockey (men)Ice FernsIce hockey (women)Inline FernsInline hockey (women)K-BlacksKilikitiKiwi FernsRugby league (women) The men's team is known as the KiwisMat BlacksIndoor bowls (mixed gender)In reference to the playing matNet BlacksNetball (Men)Silver FernsNetball (women)Silver FinsUnderwater hockey (women)Silver BladesNamed by Andrew Gous (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewgous) & Speed SkatingNamed by Andrew Gous & Peter Michael in reference to the ice skate (speed skate) blades.Steel Blacks/Iron BlacksAmerican football (men)In reference to "gridiron", a common name for the playing fields in American and Canadian football.Tall BlacksBasketball (men)In reference to the height of most professional basketball playersTall FernsBasketball (women)Volley BlacksVolleyball (men)Volley FernsVolleyball (women)Wheel BlacksWheelchair rugby (men)White FernsCricket (women)White Socks/SoxSoftball (women)Also derived from similarly named American teamsWhite Caps Women's Water Polo
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