New Zealanders Win at Rugby

Soldiers representing South Africa and New Zealand billeted in London get stuck in during a rugby fixture in Richmond Park.

This fixture, which New Zealand won 5-3, featured two teams made up of soldiers billeted in the UK during the First World War. It took place at the Richmond Athletic Ground – still used for rugby today – and if you look closely you can glimpse the pagoda in Kew Gardens behind one stand. The teams are shown lining up – it’s worth noting that players are much less smaller than contemporaries – before we get a minute of action, including a scrum.

The South Africa side was drawn from a temporary army hospital that had been built in Richmond Park itself, while the New Zealand camp was in Codford, and housed soldiers that had survived the battle of Gallipoli. The match was for charity and was attended by the New Zealand High Commissioner.