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Story: Amateurism and professionalism

1924–25 All Black tour

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1924–25 All Black tour

In 1924–25 the All Blacks rugby team toured Britain, Ireland, France and Canada, winning all 32 matches and earning the nickname the 'Invincibles'. The especially satisfying 17–11 win against England is recorded by this cartoon. The players were amateur, but the New Zealand Rugby Football Union earned large sums from international tours. This income was important for the development of the game at the highest level.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: H-542-001

by John Henry Gilmour

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Geoff Watson, Amateurism and professionalism – Amateurism in New Zealand, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/38000/1924-25-all-black-tour (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Geoff Watson, published 22 November 2012.