New Zealand All Blacks, commonly referred to as All Blacks or simply New Zealand, is one of the most iconic and successful rugby teams in the world. Founded in 1884, the team is based in Wellington, New Zealand, and plays its home matches at the famous Eden Park, which has a seating capacity of over 50,000.
The All Blacks have a rich history, boasting 3 Rugby World Cup titles, 10 Tri-Nations titles, 16 Bledisloe Cup titles, and numerous other domestic and international trophies. The team enjoyed its most successful era under legendary coach Sir Graham Henry, who led the All Blacks to a Rugby World Cup victory in 2011.
Known for its attacking style of play and the famous 'haka' pre-match ritual, the team has nurtured some of rugby's greatest talents, including Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Jonah Lomu, and Colin Meads. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances post-Henry, the New Zealand All Blacks remain one of the world's most valuable rugby teams, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence rugby worldwide.
New Zealand All Blacks is one of the most popular rugby teams in the world, with one of the highest average home attendances in international rugby. The team's global fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the All Blacks Supporters Club (ABSC), in at least 24 countries. The team capitalizes on this support through its worldwide summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that the All Blacks has 75 million fans worldwide. The team has the third highest social media following in the world among sports teams (after Barcelona and Real Madrid), with over 82 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that the All Blacks had the loudest fans in international rugby.
The All Blacks was formed in 1884 as New Zealand National Rugby Team by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU). The team initially played games against other national and club teams, but on 20 November 1884, they competed in their first recorded match; wearing the colours of the national flag—black and white—they were victorious over Cumberland County by 40–0.
In October 1945, the impending resumption of rugby after the war led to the managerial appointment of Fred Allen, who demanded an unprecedented level of control over team selection, player transfers, and training sessions. Allen led the team to a successful period in international rugby, including a dominant run in the 1960s. In 1952, the team won the Bledisloe Cup, its first major trophy for 20 years.
On 8 May 2011, Graham Henry announced that he was to retire as coach at the end of the rugby season, but would remain with the organization as a consultant and ambassador. He retired as the most decorated coach in rugby history. The team announced the next day that Crusaders coach Steve Hansen would replace him from 1 July, having signed a four-year contract. Kieran Read took over as captain in 2016, when Richie McCaw retired after a successful period in which the team won consecutive Rugby World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015.
Originally funded by the New Zealand Rugby Union, the team became a professional entity in 1996 due to the transition of Rugby Union from an amateur to professional sport. During this transition, the New Zealand Rugby Union invested heavily to maintain the competitive edge of the All Blacks on the international stage. The All Blacks are a major source of income for the New Zealand Rugby Union, generating profits from sponsorship deals, merchandise sales, and international broadcasting rights.
Unlike clubs in European football leagues, the All Blacks are not owned by a single entity or individual. Instead, they are governed and funded by the New Zealand Rugby Union, which is a non-profit organization. The Union is responsible for the administration of all levels of Rugby, including the All Blacks, within New Zealand. The Union's revenue comes from a variety of sources, including sponsorship deals with companies like Adidas and AIG, broadcasting rights sold domestically and internationally, and match ticket sales.
The New Zealand Rugby Union has invested heavily in the All Blacks, ensuring they have the best coaching, training facilities, and player development programs. This has resulted in the All Blacks being one of the most successful teams in international rugby history, with multiple World Cup wins and a high winning percentage in international matches. The success of the All Blacks has also resulted in strong financial returns for the New Zealand Rugby Union, with the team's popularity driving strong merchandise sales and lucrative sponsorship and broadcasting deals.
The New Zealand Rugby Union, as the governing body, has faced criticism in the past over its handling of the All Blacks' finances. In 2018, there was controversy over the Union's decision to sell the naming rights of the All Blacks jersey to insurance company AIG. Despite the criticism, the Union has maintained that such deals are necessary to ensure the financial health of the sport in New Zealand and to keep the All Blacks competitive on the international stage.
The New Zealand All Blacks is one of the most successful teams in Rugby Union history in terms of trophies won. The team's first championship was the Bledisloe Cup, which they won in 1932. In 1950, the All Blacks won their first Grand Slam title and the team has since then, gone on to win a record 19 Rugby Championship titles. Their total of 48 Bledisloe Cups is the most by any team. The All Blacks have also won the Rugby World Cup three times, more than any other team.
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Series Victories
New Zealand All Blacks History: An overview of the history, achievements and key players of the New Zealand All Blacks https://www.allblacks.com/history
New Zealand All Blacks Finances: An insight into the financial aspects and governance of the New Zealand All Blacks https://www.nzru.co.nz/finances
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