This film is one of many examples of New Zealand rugby teams featuring in British newsreels during World War One.
The rugby team that features was from Codford Camp, the largest New Zealand training camp in the United Kingdom at the time, which served as a retraining depot for Gallipoli wounded. It was replaced by Sling Camp later in the year. The team was nearly unbeaten during the 1915-1916 season, having won 10 out of 11 games in a series of charity matches. Their only loss came to the “Springboks”, thus the media interest in the game: it was seen as a championship decider. The Springboks were made up of South African servicemen recuperating after being wounded while serving with the South African Brigade in France.
This match was also filmed by the Topical Budget newsreel, see F97871.
This match is believed to have occurred on 8th April 1916
Intertitle: “FIGHTING MEN AT PLAY. ‘All Blacks’ beat ‘Springboks’ in hotly contested Rugby Match at Richmond.” Views of game.
Intertitle: “An interesting spectator, Sir T. Mackenzie, the High Commissioner for New Zealand.” Thomas Mackenzie, the High Commissioner, mingles and chats with members of the New Zealand armed forces (NZEF) who wear lemon squeezer hats; many, including Mackenzie, are enjoying a cigarette.
From notes by Chris Pugsley.