North vs South rugby union match explained

The North vs South match, sometimes known as the Interisland match was a longstanding rugby union fixture in New Zealand between the North Island and South Island teams.

The first match was played on 30 June 1897 at Wellington's Athletic Park, and the match became an annual fixture from 1902. Matches ceased during World War I from 1915 to 1918, but during World War II only the 1940, 1941 and 1942 matches were cancelled, with competition resuming in 1943. The last annual match on regular basis was played in 1986.

In 2012, a one-off match at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium in 2012 to help fundraise for the financially troubled Otago Rugby Football Union, which was won by the South 32–24.

A second one-off match was initially scheduled to be held on 29 August 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, it was postponed to 5 September 2020.

Most early matches were played in one of the four main cities (Auckland and Wellington in the North Island, Christchurch and Dunedin in the South Island), but from 1970 onwards the fixture was rotated around a number of provincial centres.

Colours

In the very first match in 1897, the North Island wore yellow and black jerseys while the South Island team wore all black.

Since 1904 the North Island traditionally played in black jerseys and black shorts, while the South Island played in white jerseys with white shorts.

List of results

Overall

Details	Played	Won by North Island	Won by South Island	Drawn	North Island points	South Island points
In North Island	50	31	17	2	940	637
In South Island	31	19	11	1	517	358
Overall	81	50	28	3	1457	995

Year	Date	Venue	Winner	Score
1897	30 June	Wellington	North	16—3
1898-1901	Not played
1902		Wellington	South	20—14
1903		Auckland	South	12—5
1904		Dunedin	draw	3—3
1905		Wellington	North	26—0
1906		Wellington	North	9—5
1907		Christchurch	North	11—0
1908		Wellington	North	12—5
1909		Wellington	South	19—11
1910		Christchurch	South	14—10
1911	7 October	Wellington	North	19—9
1912		Napier	North	12—8
1913		Christchurch	South	25—0
1914		Wellington	South	8—0
1915-18		Not played
1919		Wellington	North	28—11
1920		Wellington	North	12—3
1921		Christchurch	North	28—13
1922	8 July	Auckland	South	9—8
1923		Wellington	draw	6—6
1924		Wellington	North	39—8
1925			North	16—5
1926		Wellington	North	41—9
1927		Wellington	South	31—30
1928		Christchurch	South	15—14
1929		Wellington	North	29—20
1930		Not played
1931		Wellington	draw	20—20
1932		Christchurch	North	28—10
1933		Wellington	North	27—18
1934		Dunedin	South	27—10
1935		Wellington	North	15—9
1936		Christchurch	North	17—6
1937		Wellington	South	30—21
1938		Wellington	South	31—23
1939		Wellington	South	25—19
1940-42		Not played
1943		Wellington	South	17—16
1944		Christchurch	North	28—3
1945		Auckland	South	31—19
1946		Wellington	North	8—3
1947		Invercargill	North	13—11
1948		Wellington	South	12—11
1949		Christchurch	North	23—3
1950		Auckland	North	10—8
1951		Wellington	North	14—12
1952		Dunedin	South	11—3
1953		Wellington	North	15—14
1954		Christchrch	North	13—9
1955		Wellington	North	15—9
1956		Wellington	South	13—11
1957	17 August	Auckland	North	19—3
1958	2 August	Dunedin	North	13—6
1959		Wellington	North	30—14
1960		Christchurch	South	26—11
1961		Wellington	North	25—3
1962		Christchurch	South	17—14
1963		Christchurch	South	14—13
1964		Auckland	North	12—9
1965	9 June	Wellington	North	25—14
1966			North	12—3
1967		Dunedin	North	17—6
1968		Christchurch	North	34—17
1969		Wellington	South	13—3
1970	12 September	Nelson	North	11—6
1971			North	31—9
1972	15 July	Christchurch	North	19—8^[1]
1973			North	27—14
1974		Auckland	North	22—0
1975	13 September	Christchurch	South	17—14
1976	11 September	Hamilton	South	20—16
1977		Dunedin	South	6—4
1978		New Plymouth	North	29—13
1979	11 August	Invercargill	North	9—3
1980	2 August	Palmerston North	North	13—9
1981		Dunedin	North	10—4
1982	10 July	Wanganui	South	22—12
1983	3 September	Blenheim	North	22—9
1984			North	39—3
1985		New Plymouth	North	29—12
1986		Oamaru	North	22-10
1987-94		Not played
1995	8 April	Dunedin	North	63-22
1996-2011		Not played
2012	10 June	Dunedin	South	32-24
2013-2019		Not played
2020	5 September	Wellington	South	38-35

Date	Winner	Venue	Result	Tries	Goals	Attendance	Reference
30 June 1897	North Island	Athletic Park, Wellington	16 - 3	North: W. Hardcastle, A. Humphries, W. Roberts South: P. Priest	North: A. Humphries (3)	N/A	^[2]
13 September 1969	South Island	Athletic Park, Wellington	3 - 13		South: F. McCormick (3)	N/A	^[3]
10 June 2012	South Island	Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin	32 - 24		North: L. Munro (3), R. Robinson South: K. Baker (3)	7,427	^[4]
	South Island	Sky Stadium, Wellington	38 - 35		North: D. McKenzie (5) South: J. Barrett (6)	0	^[5]

References

• Lambert, M. and Palenski, R. 4th Air New Zealand Almanac, Moa Alamanac Press 1985.

Notes and References

1. Book: The Rugby Almanack of New Zealand 1973 . Sporting Publications . A. C. Swan & A. H. Carman . 49.
2. Web site: TDIH: June 26 1897 – North beats South 16 – 3 in first inter-island match. – New Zealand Rugby Museum | All Blacks | Palmerston North.
3. Web site: North v South, 1969.
4. Web site: Rugby: South prevails in entertaining game. 12 June 2012.
5. Web site: North v South: Thriller goes South's way after absorbing battle of the playmakers. 5 September 2020.