The 2005 New Zealand rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland was a Grand Slam rugby union tour played by the New Zealand National Rugby Union Team, also known as the All Blacks, in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland against their respective national teams. Played through November, it consisted of 4 matches against Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland.
It was the first Grand Slam Tour by the All Blacks since the 18 match Grand Slam tour of 1978.
New Zealand won all matches with a touring squad of 35 players selected by Head Coach Graham Henry. The first against Wales on 5 November, then against Ireland on 12 November, England on 19 November and finally Scotland on 26 November to complete the first successful Grand Slam tour of the professional era. The last successful Grand Slam was by Australia in 1984 in between 14 other matches.
Read more about 2005 New Zealand Rugby Union Tour Of Britain And Ireland: Touring Squad, Tests
Famous quotes containing the words zealand, union, tour, britain and/or ireland:
“Teasing is universal. Anthropologists have found the same fundamental patterns of teasing among New Zealand aborigine children and inner-city kids on the playgrounds of Philadelphia.”
—Lawrence Kutner (20th century)
“And thus they sang their mysterious duo, sang of their nameless hope, their death-in-love, their union unending, lost forever in the embrace of night’s magic kingdom. O sweet night, everlasting night of love! Land of blessedness whose frontiers are infinite!”
—Thomas Mann (1875–1955)
“Left Washington, September 6, on a tour through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia.... Absent nineteen days. Received every where heartily. The country is again one and united! I am very happy to be able to feel that the course taken has turned out so well.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“I see no cameras! Where are the cameras?”
—Mary, Queen of Great Britain (1867–1953)
“Out of Ireland have we come,
Great hatred, little room
Maimed us at the start.
I carry from my mother’s womb
A fanatic’s heart.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)