Story: Sport and society

There was huge public interest in the 1956 rugby series between the All Blacks and the Springboks, and attendances at the test matches were among the largest in New Zealand history. The major grounds had standing banks, and positions could not be reserved; so in order to get a really good view fans would bed down at the entrance to the grounds to be among the first to enter next morning and grab a really good 'possie' [position]. This film clip shows this ritual on a cold wintry night at Athletic Park in Wellington on 3–4 August 1956.