Canada scheduled to play All Blacks, June 2007

October 25, 2006

via Rugby Canada:

CANADA TO PLAY ALL BLACKS IN NEW ZEALAND IN JUNE 2007

October 25, 2006

Canada will face New Zealand for the first time since the Rugby World Cup 2003

Toronto, ON

Canada will play the New Zealand All Blacks in June 2007, as part of both nations’ preparation for the Rugby World Cup. Canada will travel to the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’ to play the All Blacks on June 16th.

Ties between the two unions have grown closer in recent years with Canada ‘A’ having toured to New Zealand in April 2006. In 2003, the New Zealand Maori travelled to Canada for a two-match series, returning in subsequent years as part of the Churchill Cup. New Zealand youth development teams also regularly tour to British Columbia.

The first contact between Canada and New Zealand on the rugby field was 100 years ago when the ‘Originals’ traveled across North America after their lengthy tour to Europe.

Winning 34 of 35 games, that tour was also the first time the New Zealanders were referred to as the ‘All Blacks’. British Columbia sent a team to California in February 1906, to play New Zealand twice in four days; BC lost both games.

Although not exactly 100 years later, the invitation to play the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2007 will be the 4th full test between the two countries.

Canada last faced the All Blacks in Australia in 2003 at the Rugby World Cup. The two also met at the 1991 Rugby World Cup in France. The only match to have been on either team’s home soil was a 1995 test played in New Zealand.

Link.

New Zealand Herald confirms the test.

[Update:] Rugby Canada has more details.

ps. Re: "The only match to have been on either team’s home soil was a 1995 test played in New Zealand."

Not so. See below...

New Zealand vs Canada at Swangara Stadium
Vancouver, Canada
Saturday, 11 October 1980

Fulltime: New Zealand 43, Canada 10
Halftime: New Zealand 25, Canada 3
Attendance: 10000
Conditions: Weather fine, ground good
Referee: C. Thomas (Wales)

Link.