International RL Blog

The great rugby split happened in 1895 when, put simply, the southern based bosses wouldn't play fair with the northern based working class players. The Northern Union was formed which became Rugby League and it prospered although concern was expressed about whether the new code was financially viable without international competition. The All Golds  arrived in 1907  and their tour was a big success. It facilitated the introduction of the new code in New Zealand and Australia who provided the required international competition. In the UK, Rugby League is now played in the summer and, without doubt, this has many advantages. However, the move destroyed the traditional and very successful international calendar involving regular Kangaroo/Lions/ Kiwi tours and as a sport we haven't really found an acceptable replacement. Tri/Four Nation tournaments are poor replacements which don't attract enough sponsorship, crowds or media attention.  Ruby League internationals used...

Prior to the arrival of   The All Golds  in 1907, Northern Union officials were concerned that the new code would not be able to survive financially without international competition and the gate receipts produced. Of course, The All Golds  tour was a big success and it facilitated the introduction of the new code in New Zealand and Australia who provided the required international competition. As a result, the new code went from strength to strength and was eventually renamed Rugby League. Despite peaks and troughs, Rugby League has generally prospered and, last year it celebrated its 120th anniversary. Times have changed and progress has been made. The game is now played in the summer by full time professionals and is beginning to spread around the UK and further afield. In 2016, grass root games between Oxford, Coventry, North Wales, South Wales, Hemel Hempsted and London took place. In the next few months Serbia, Spain, Russia, Italy, Malta, Thailand, Scotland and ...

O n the night of August 8, 1907, the most celebrated sportsman in Australia stepped off a tram in Sydney’s George Street.  He pulled up his collar against the cool breeze and, satisfied he wasn’t being followed by the press, walked briskly towards the four-storey brick hotel in front of him. As he approached, the door was opened from within and with a final furtive glance behind him he hurried inside. George Bateman, the licensee of the hotel shook the man’s hand and said, “Good evening, Mr Trumper.” CLICK HERE  to read more about The Birth of Australian Rugby League

Here are some new webpages with information about the most famous touring team of all, The famous All Golds who toured Great Britain and Australia in 1907/08. They are brilliant. Check them out. http://allgolds.net https://www.facebook.com/nzallgolds

The All Golds were the famous New Zealand rugby league side who toured Ceylon, England, Wales and Australia in 1907/08. The tour involved famous players such Lance Todd, Dally Messenger, Edgar Wrigley, George Smith and Massa Johnson. Bert Baskerville was the main organiser of the tour but he also featured as a player. They attracted large crowds and overcame almost overwhelming difficulties to achieve series victories against both Great Britain and Australia. "All That is Gold" is their story CLICK HERE  for more info

The All Golds were the famous New Zealand rugby league side who toured Ceylon, England, Wales and Australia in 1907/08. Bert Baskerville was the main organiser but he also made a very significant contribution as a player The tour involved famous players such Lance Todd, Dally Messenger, Edgar Wrigley, George Smith and Massa Johnson. They attracted large crowds and overcame almost overwhelming difficulties to achieve series victories against both Great Britain and Australia. The All Golds were Bert Baskerville's team. This is his story CLICK HERE  for more info

 In 2007, the All Golds toured England again to celebrate the centenary of the famous tour.  They were invited to meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace and performed their haka

In 2007, the New Zealand Rugby League celebrated the centenary of the All Golds tour. Like their famous ancestors, they performed a haka at Leeds Railway Station

The All Golds were the famous New Zealand rugby league side who toured Ceylon, England, Wales and Australia in 1907/08. Bert Baskerville was the main organiser but he also made a very significant contribution as a player The tour involved famous players such Lance Todd, Dally Messenger, Edgar Wrigley, George Smith and Massa Johnson. They attracted large crowds and overcame almost overwhelming difficulties to achieve series victories against both Great Britain and Australia. The All Golds were Bert Baskerville's team. This is his story CLICK HERE  for more info

The All Golds arrived by train at Leeds Midland Railway Station on 1st October 1907. They were greeted by a large and enthusiastic crowd who went wild when they performed the haka

Lance Todd was one of the star players for the famous All Golds tour team in 1907/08. At the end of the tour he signed for Wigan and later became a very successful manager for Salford. He was also a BBC commentator and the annual Challenge Cup Final Man of the Match Trophy is named after him. He was killed while serving with the Home Guard in 1942 and is buried in Ince Cemetery.

The third and deciding test match between the Northern Union XIII (representing England) and the All Golds took place at the Recreation Ground in Cheltenham. The All Golds won to clinch a series victory The Recreation Ground no longer exists but a plaque has been erected on the site to commemorate the occasion.

Hubert Turtill played full back for the All Golds and signed for St Helens at the end of the tour. He was a portly child and he kept his nickname, Jum which is short for Jumbo

Lance Todd was a star player for the All Golds and he signed for Wigan at the end of the tour. He later became a successful manager of Salford

The All Golds were a famous NZ rugby league team who toured Ceylon, Great Britain and Australia in 1908/08. The tour was organised by Bert Baskerville

Bert Baskerville was a very clever man. He organised to All Golds tour in 1907/08. The All Golds were a professional New Zealand rugby league team who toured GB and Australia. They achieved series wins in each country despite facing almost overwhelming difficulties. Bert Baskerville should be much more famous than he is

The All Golds were the famous New Zealand rugby league side who toured Ceylon, England, Wales and Australia in 1907/08. The tour involved famous players such Lance Todd, Dally Messenger, Edgar Wrigley, George Smith and Massa Johnson. Bert Baskerville was the main organiser of the tour but he also featured as a player. They attracted large crowds and overcame almost overwhelming difficulties to achieve series victories against both Great Britain and Australia. "All That is Gold" is their story CLICK HERE  for more info

1 st  January 1908               Wales 9    New Zealand  All Golds 8                Aberdare In 1907-08, Albert Henry Baskerville organized a group of  New Zealand  players for a professional tour to the  UK  against  Northern Union  opposition. Dubbed the All Golds they included Australian susperstar Dally Messenger as a guest and played a total of 46 matches including the first RL international against  Wales . Although the All Golds led 8 -3 at half time the Welsh came back strongly and Dai Jones scored a try with only minutes to go. They held on for a famous victory although Dick Wynard of the All Golds missed a great opportunity         Dally Messenger                               ...