Wellington’s Athletic Park hosted the first All Blacks test match played in New Zealand in 1904. The following year, Dunedin’s Tahuna Park hosted the All Blacks’ second test, against Australia. In 1987, New Zealand hosted the first ever Rugby World Cup, thanks in part to lobbying by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and one of their councillors – an unsung hero from Whakatāne by the name of Dick Littlejohn. New Zealand Rugby hosted the Lions for the first time in the professional era. A former head of communications for New Zealand Rugby, Brian Finn runs public affairs consultancy Engage Group.

Source: Stuff September 03, 2022 15:54 UTC