1924–25 New Zealand rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and France

(Redirected from The Invincibles (rugby union))

Series of rugby union matches

The Invincibles, as they were nicknamed after winning all 32 of their games overseas

Manager

S.S. Dean

Tour captain(s)

Cliff Porter

Top point scorer(s)

Mark Nicholls (131)

Top try scorer(s)

Bert Cooke (28)

Summary

P	W	D	L

Total

32	32	00	00

Test match

04	04	00	00

Opponent

P	W	D	L

Ireland

1	1	0	0

Wales

1	1	0	0

England

1	1	0	0

France

1	1	0	0

Tour chronology

Previous tour

1924 NS Wales

Next tour

1925 NS Wales

The Invincibles was a nickname given to the 1924–25 New Zealand national team which toured the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Canada. The team was captained by Cliff Porter, and numbered among its top players George Nēpia and brothers Cyril and Maurice Brownlie. During the test against England Cyril Brownlie was sent off by the Welsh referee Albert Freethy, the first player to be sent off from a test.

Between September 1924 and February 1925, the team played 32 games including four test matches, one each against Ireland, England, Wales, and France. They won all 32 games, scoring 838 points and only having 116 points scored against them.

Cliff Porter was tour captain, but played only 17 of the 32 games due to injury, including just one test (against France). During the remaining games, tour vice-captain Johnstone Richardson (Jock) took over the captaincy.

Touring party

Management

Manager: Stanley Dean (Wellington)
Captain: Cliff Porter

Full-backs

George Nēpia (Hawke's Bay)

Three-quarters

Five-eighths

Half-backs

Bill Dalley (Canterbury)
Jimmy Mill (Hawke's Bay)

Wing forwards

Jim Parker (Canterbury)
Cliff Porter (Wellington)

Forwards

Match summary

Complete list of matches played by the All Blacks in the British Isles, France and Canada: Test matches

#	Date	Rival	City	Venue	Score
1	13 Sep 1924	Devonshire RU	Devonport	Rectory Ground	11–0
2	18 Sep	Cornwall RU	Camborne	Recreation Ground	29–0
3	20 Sep	Somersetshire RU	Weston-super-Mare	Weston Ground	6–0
4	25 Sep	Gloucestershire RU	Gloucester	Kingsholm Stadium	6–0
5	27 Sep	Swansea RFC	Swansea	St Helens Ground	39–3
6	2 Oct	Newport RFC	Newport	Athletic Ground	13–10
7	4 Oct	Leicester Tigers	Leicester	Welford Road Stadium	27–0
8	8 Oct	North Midlands RU	Birmingham	Villa Park	40–3
9	11 Oct	Cheshire RU	Birkenhead	Birkenhead Park	18–5
10	15 Oct	Durham	Sunderland	Roker Park	43–7
11	18 Oct	Yorkshire RU	Bradford	Lidget Green	42–4
12	22 Oct	Lancashire RU	Manchester	Old Trafford	23–0
13	25 Oct	Cumberland	Carlisle	Brunton Park	41–0
14	1 Nov	Ireland	Dublin	Lansdowne Road	6–0
15	5 Nov	Ulster Rugby	Belfast	Ravenhill Stadium	28–6
16	8 Nov	Northumberland RU	Gosforth		27–4
17	12 Nov	Cambridge University	Grange Road		5–0
18	15 Nov	London Counties	London	Twickenham Stadium	31–6
19	20 Nov	Oxford University	Oxford	Iffley Road	33–15
20	22 Nov	Cardiff RFC	Cardiff	National Stadium	16–8
21	29 Nov	Wales	Swansea	St Helens Ground	19–0
22	2 Dec	Llanelli RFC	Llanelli	Stradey Park	8–3
23	6 Dec	East Midlands	Northampton	Cricket Ground	31–7
24	11 Dec	Warwickshire RU	Highfield Road		20–0
25	13 Dec	Combined Services	London	Twickenham Stadium	25–3
26	17 Dec	Hampshire RU	Portsmouth	Fratton Park	22–0
27	27 Dec	London Counties	London	Rectory Field	28–3
28	3 Jan 1925	England	London	Twickenham Stadium	17–11
29	11 Jan	Selection Francais	Colombes	Stade Olympique	37–8
30	18 Jan	France	Toulouse	Stade des Ponts Jumeaux	30–6
31	14 Feb	Vancouver	Vancouver	Cricket Oval	49–0
32	18 Feb	Victoria	Vancouver Island	Victoria Ground	68–4

The test-matches

Ireland

1 November 1924

Ireland	0–6	New Zealand
		Try: Snowy Svenson Pen: Nicholls

Lansdowne Road
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: A.E. Freethy (Wales)

Ireland: 15.William Crawford, 14.Henry Stephenson, 13.George Stephenson, 12.James Gardiner, 11.Tom Hewitt, 10.Frank Hewitt, 9.John McDowell, 8.James Clinch, 7.Robert Crichton, 6.Norman Brand, 5.William Collis, 4.Alex Spain, 3.Dick Collopy, 2.Thomas McClelland, 1.Jim McVicker
New Zealand: 15.George Nēpia, 14.Snowy Svenson, 13.Frederick Lucas, 12.Bert Cooke, 11.Augustine Hart, 10.Mark Nicholls, 9.Bill Dalley, 8.Les Cupples, 7.Son White, 6.Jock Richardson (c), 5.Read Masters, 4.Maurice Brownlie, 3.Bull Irvine, 2.Quentin Donald, 1.James Parker

Wales

29 November 1924

Wales	0–19	New Zealand
		Try: Irvine (2) M Brownlie Svenson Con: Nicholls Pen: Nicholls

St Helens
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Col. J.S. Brunton (England)

Wales: Tom Johnson (Cardiff), Ernie Finch (Llanelli), Albert Jenkins (Llanelli), Albert Stock (Newport), Rowe Harding (Swansea), Jack Wetter (Newport) capt., Eddie Williams (Neath), Bobby Delahay (Cardiff), Dai Parker (Swansea), Jack Gore, (Blaina), Charlie Pugh (Maesteg), Steve Morris (Cross Keys), Cliff Williams (Llanelli), Douglas Marsden-Jones (London Welsh), Dai Hiddlestone (Neath)
New Zealand: G Nēpia, J Steel, AE Cooke, KS Svenson, NP McGregor, MF Nicholls, J Mill, JH Parker, WR Irvine, Q Donald, RR Masters, LF Cupples, CJ Brownlie, MJ Brownlie, J Richardson (capt.)

England

3 January 1925

England	11–17	New Zealand
Try: Cove-Smith, Kittermaster Con: Conway Pen: Corbett		Try: Steel, Svenson MJ Brownlie, Parker, Con: Nicholls Pen: Nicholls

Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Albert Freethy (Wales)

England:15.Jim Brough, 14.Richard Hamilton-Wickes, 13.Vivian Davies, 12.Leonard Corbett, 11.Cliff Gibbs, 10.Harold Kittermaster, 9.Arthur Young, 8.Tom Voyce, 7.Geoffrey Conway, 6.Freddie Blakiston, 5.Ron Cove-Smith, 4.Wavell Wakefield (cap.), 3.Ronald Hillard, 2.Sam Tucker, 1.Reg Edwards
New Zealand:15.George Nēpia, 14.John Steel, 13.Bert Cooke, 12.Mark Nicholls, 11.Snowy Svenson, 10.Neil McGregor, 9.Jimmy Mill, 8.Jock Richardson (cap.), 7.Son White, 6.Cyril Brownlie , 5.Read Masters, 4.Maurice Brownlie, 3.Bull Irvine, 2.Quentin Donald, 1.James Parker,

France

18 January 1925

France	6–30	New Zealand
Try: Cassayeet Ribere		Try: Cooke (2), Irivine, Porter, Richardson, Steel, Svenson, White Con: Nicholls (3)

Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: H.E.B. Wilkins (England)

Team details

France

New Zealand

France: 15.Chilo, 14.Jauregui, 13.Ballette, 12.Ballarin, 11.Hallet, 10.du Manoir, 9.Piteu, 8.Boubee, 7.Ribere, 6.Bioussa, 5.Cassayeet (capt), 4.Laurent, 3.Maury, 2.Marcet, 1.Montade
New Zealand: 15.George Nēpia, 14.John Steel, 13.Frederick Lucas, 12.Bert Cooke, 11.Snowy Svenson, 10.Mark Nicholls, 9.Jimmy Mill, 8.Cliff Porter (capt), 7.Son White, 6.Jock Richardson, 5.Cyril Brownlie, 4., 3.Maurice Brownlie, 2.Quentin Donald, 1.Bull Irvine

Bibliography

Chester, R., Palenski, R., and McMillan, N. (1998) The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby. Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett.

References

The 1924 Invincibles All Black team on NZ History website
^ Match centre - In Australia, the British Isles, France and Canada on AllBlacks.com
90 years on Invincibles remain larger than life part of All Blacks history by James Mortimer on All Blacks website, 9 Dec 2014

New Zealand national rugby union team

New Zealand Rugby

History and Records

Players

Competitions and trophies

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Matches

World Cup finals	1987 1995 2011 2015 2023
By opponent	Argentina Australia Barbarians British & Irish Lions England France Ireland Italy Japan Munster Scotland South Africa Wales
See also	1888–89 matches Rhodesia (1949) Barbarians (1973) NZRFU Centenary Matches South Africa (1992)

Tours

Australia	1884 1893 1897 1903 1905 1907 1910 1914 1920 1922 1924 1925 1926 1929 1932 1934 1938 1947 1951 1957 1960 1962 1968 1974 1979 1980 1984 1988 1991 1992
South Africa	1928 1949 1960 1970 1976 1992 1996
Europe	1905–06 1924–25 1935–36 1953–54 1963–64 1967 1972–73 1974 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1983 1986 1989 1990 1993 1995 1997 2000 2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2008
Asia and Oceania	1968 1974 1980 1984 1987
Americas	US (1906) US & Canada 1913) Canada (1925) Canada (1936) US & Canada (1954) Canada (1964) Canada (1967) Canada (1972) Uruguay & Argentina (1976) US & Canada (1980) Argentina (1985) Canada (1989) Argentina (1991) Argentina (2001) Argentina (2006)
Māori All Blacks tours	1888–89 1926–27 1949 1982 2012 2013 2014

See also

v t e Rugby union tours of France
Argentina	1975 1982 1988 1992 1998 2004 2006 2008 2021
Australia	1927–28 (Waratahs) 1947–48 1957–58 1966–67 1971 1976 1983 1989 1993 1998 2000 2001 2004 2005 2008
Canada	1979 1994 2002 2005
Fiji	1964 1989 no test 1990 2001
Ireland	1988
Japan	1973 2000
Maori All Blacks	1926–27
New Zealand	1905 1924–25 1953–54 1963–64 1972–73 1977 1986 1981 1990 1995 2000 2002 2004 2006
Pacific Islanders	2008
Samoa	1989 (no test)
South Africa	1906–07 1912–13 1951–52 1960–61 1992 1996 1997 2001 2002 2005
Tonga	2005
USA	1924 Olympic Games

v t e Rugby union tours of England
Argentina	1978 1990 1999 2000 2006 2022
Australia	1908–09 1927–28 (Waratahs) 1947–48 1957–58 1966–67 1973 1975–76 1981–82 1984 1988 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2004 2005 2008 2009 2013
New Zealand	1905 1924–25 1935–36 1953–54 1963–64 1967 1972–73 1974 (no test) 1978 1979 1983 1993 1997 2002 2005 2006 2008
South Africa	1906–07 1912–13 1931–32 1951–52 1960–61 1969–70 1992 1996 ("A" team) 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2004 2006 2008
Romania	1984–85
Japan	1973 (no test) 1976 (no test) 1986
Fiji	1982 (no test) 1985 (no test) 1989
Samoa	1989 (no test) 1995 1996 (no test) 2005
Tonga	1997 (no test)
Pacific Islanders	2008
Canada	1979 (no test) 1983 (no test) 1994 1999 2004
United States	1924 (no test) 1977 (no test) 1999
Maori All Blacks	1888–89 1926–27

v t e Rugby union tours of France
Argentina	1975 1982 1988 1992 1998 2004 2006 2008 2021
Australia	1927–28 (Waratahs) 1947–48 1957–58 1966–67 1971 1976 1983 1989 1993 1998 2000 2001 2004 2005 2008
Canada	1979 1994 2002 2005
Fiji	1964 1989 no test 1990 2001
Ireland	1988
Japan	1973 2000
Maori All Blacks	1926–27
New Zealand	1905 1924–25 1953–54 1963–64 1972–73 1977 1986 1981 1990 1995 2000 2002 2004 2006
Pacific Islanders	2008
Samoa	1989 (no test)
South Africa	1906–07 1912–13 1951–52 1960–61 1992 1996 1997 2001 2002 2005
Tonga	2005
USA	1924 Olympic Games

v t e Rugby union tours of Ireland
Argentina	1973 1990 1999 2002 2004 2008 2021
Australia	1927–28 (Waratahs) 1947–48 1957–58 1966–67 1968 1975–76 1981–82 1984 1992 1996 2002 2004 2005 2006 2009 2013
Canada	2008
Fiji	1985 1995 2002
Italy	1988-89
Japan	2000
New Zealand	1888–89 (Māori) 1905 1924–25 1926–27 (Māori) 1935–36 1953–54 1963–64 1972–73 1978 1989 1997 2001 2005 2008
Pacific Islanders	2006
Romania	1980 2002
Samoa	1988 1996 2001
South Africa	1906–07 1912–13 1931–32 1951–52 1960–61 1965 1969–70 1994 (no test) 1996 ("A" team) 1998 2000 2004 2006

v t e Rugby union tours of Wales
Argentina	1976 (no test) 1978 (no test) 1998 2001 2021 2022
Australia	1908–09 1927–28 (Waratahs) 1947–48 1957–58 1966–67 1973 1975–76 1981–82 1984 1992 1996 2001 2005 2006 2008 2009 2013
Canada	1979 (no test) 1999 2002 2008
Fiji	1964 1985 1995 2002 2005
Japan	1973 (no test) 1976 (no test) 1983 (no test) 1993 2004
New Zealand	1905 1924–25 1935–36 1953–54 1963–64 1967 1972–73 1974 (no test) 1978 1980 1989 1997 1998 2000 ("A" team) 2002 2004 2005 2006 2008
NZ Māori	1888–89 (NZ Natives) 1926–27 1982
Pacific Islanders	2006
Romania	1979 2002
Samoa	1988 1996 (no test) 2000
South Africa	1906–07 1912–13 1931–32 1951–52 1960–61 1969–70 1994 1996 2000 2004 2005 2007 2008
Tonga	1997 2001
United States	1987 1997 1999 (no test) 2000
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