<P> Rugby Union has a long history in New Zealand . Today it holds tier one status with the IRB . </P> <P> Before Europeans arrived in New Zealand, the Māori were playing a ball game called ki - o - rahi which greatly resembled Australian Rules Football and rugby football . It has been suggested that this may have influenced New Zealand playing styles, especially amongst the indigenous population . </P> <P> Various codes of football were played in New Zealand in the years following white settlement . Christchurch Football Club, which is now the oldest rugby club in the country, was founded in 1863 . It played by its own rules for many years . </P> <P> Rugby football was first introduced to New Zealand in 1870 by Charles John Monro, son of the then - Speaker of the House of Representatives, David Monro . He encountered the game while studying at Christ's College Finchley, in East Finchley, London, England, and on his return introduced the game to Nelson College, who played the first rugby union match against Nelson football club on 14 May . A visit to Wellington by Munro later that same year resulted in an organised match between Nelson and Wellington . By the following year, the game had been formalised in Wellington, and subsequently rugby was taken up in Wanganui and Auckland in 1873 and Hamilton in 1874 . In 1875, the first representative team was formed, being a combined - clubs Auckland team which toured the South . It is thought that by the mid-1870s, the game had been taken up by the majority of the colony . </P>

Scene of nz first rugby match in 1870