List of 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team matches

The 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team played 107 rugby union matches during their 14-month tour of the British Isles, Australia, and New Zealand. The tour was the longest in rugby history, and the first by a New Zealand team to Europe.[1][2] The team was privately organised by Joe Warbrick,[lower-alpha 1] and was originally intended to contain only Māori players. Several non-Māori and a number of non-New Zealand-born players were eventually recruited to strengthen the side.[4] Of their rugby matches, they won 78, lost 23, and drew 6.[1] The team played three internationals: a heavy loss to England, a win over Ireland, and a narrow loss to Wales.[5]

The New Zealand Natives before their match against Queensland in July 1889, in front of the United Tribes flag and the Union Jack

The initial leg of the Native team's journey was a tour of New Zealand, and their first match was a 5–0 victory over Hawke's Bay.[6] The team departed from New Zealand having won seven of their nine matches, but their losses included a heavy defeat to Auckland.[7][8] After stopping in Melbourne on their way to London, they played their first match in England against Surrey on 3 October 1888.[9] The team played 74 matches in the British Isles—with 36 of these in their first three months.[10] Only one match was played in Scotland, against Hawick RFC, and three in Ireland.[1] The intense itinerary of matches continued during the second half of their British Isles leg; this contributed to a high injury rate, and the team struggled to field a full side during much of this time.[11] Despite the injury toll, they won 14 of their last 20 matches in England.[12] While in the British Isles the Natives averaged a game every 2.3 days.[13]

Following their departure from Plymouth in March 1889, the Natives travelled to Melbourne, Australia.[14] There the team played eight Victorian rules football matches[15] and two rugby games. The team continued their journey to New South Wales and Queensland, where they played mostly rugby. This included playing each state side twice, as well as at least two association football matches. The final leg of the team's trip was another tour of New Zealand—this saw them lose only once, to Auckland in their final game.[16]