Story: Sports reporting and commentating

First rugby test between New Zealand and Britain, 1930

On 21 June 1930 Alfred Canter commentated on the first live rugby test broadcast in New Zealand. Although the cartoon suggests that the game was between England and New Zealand, the winning team was actually the British Lions. The match was at Carisbrook in Dunedin. Listen to an excerpt from Canter's commentary.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-315-2-190
Cartoon by Trevor Lloyd

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.

Sound file from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero (NZ vs Lions 1930/Reference ID25948)

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Keith Quinn, 'Sports reporting and commentating - Radio', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/speech/40099/first-rugby-test-between-new-zealand-and-britain-1930 (accessed 20 March 2024)

Story by Keith Quinn, published 5 Sep 2013