In Britain in 1895 22 clubs decided to leave the Rugby Football Union and set up their own competition, the Northern Union. Its a long story but basically the Northern Union thought they should be payed for the time the players missed off work. This left 2 Unions in England and Wales, the Rugby Football Union and the Northern Rugby Football Union.
In 1907 the All Blacks were to tour England and Wales but instead of choosing to play against the RFU they decided that they'd play against the NRFU and be payed for it. As they were playing professionally (not allowed under RFU rules) they were nicknamed the all-golds. They then took this New, professional version of Rugby back to Australia and New Zealand.
The Northern Union (later to become Rugby League) played its first ever international against the All-Blacks (All Golds) in 1907 (100 years ago) so a special commemerative match between a team representing Great Britain (the Northern Union) and a team representing New Zealand (the All Golds), they even have an Australian playing to commemorate Dally Messenger playing for the 1907 All Golds. This was played on Saturday before the full GB vs New Zealand test series which will be happening over the next few weeks starts.
The 1907 "All Golds"
2007 All Golds
