Which rugby union team is nicknamed the All Blacks?

New Zealand’s national rugby union team is nicknamed the All Blacks.

The team’s distinctive black playing kit helped create the nickname, which has been used since the early twentieth century. New Zealand first played an international match in 1884 against a team representing New South Wales, and its first overseas tour took place in 1905. That touring side became widely known as the Originals.

The All Blacks are famous for performing the haka, a Māori ceremonial challenge, before matches. The tradition was used by New Zealand teams during overseas tours and became a major part of the national side’s identity. Different haka have been performed over the years, including “Ka Mate” and “Kapa o Pango.”

New Zealand won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 and has remained one of the sport’s leading teams. The nickname refers specifically to the men’s national fifteen-a-side team, although New Zealand’s women’s side is known as the Black Ferns.