Although the New Zealand Rugby Union wasn't formed until 1892, a New Zealand rugby team toured New South Wales in 1884. They are referred to as the New Zealand team or New Zealand Representative Team and, according to the NZRU website: "The New Zealand Representative Team is recognised as a New Zealand team and its players are recognised as All Blacks". Otago prop, James Allan who played on that 1884 tour has the distinction of being named All Black No. 1.
The team that went to Britain in 1888 was called the 'Natives' and the team that toured in 1905, the tour where they were first given the nickname 'All Blacks', are now referred to as the 'Originals'. The team that toured in 1924-25 are called the 'Invincibles'.
Their black kit
First game played was against the Australian national side where the New Zealanders were called the Originals The name All Blacks was coined in Britain in 1905
All Blacks, first toured Britain in 1905. Reference to the team by the name "All Blacks" first appeared during this tour when a journalist covering a match in Devon (for the Devon Echo) refereed to the team as "the players in all black" when describing the game. Prior to this the strip was a navy blue top with white shorts. Then as the tour progressed a London newspaper reported the game and used the now famous name as a descriptor. The history of this name is recorded in the Devon evening mail in the UK.
people
Tenacious d
Yes they do, but only occasionally. They are more famous for playing in black. Hence the name All Blacks.
Dan Carter!
Jack Sullivan
All Blacks
The All Blacks
The first team were called the originals in 1905
First was blacks.