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
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (February 2011)
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 Invercargill 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 Hamilton 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 New Plymouth North 31—9
1972 15 July Christchurch North 19—8[1]
1973 Whangarei 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 Rotorua 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 North: M. O'Callaghan
South: I. Kirkpatrick, P. Gard		 South: F. McCormick (3) N/A [3]
10 June 2012 South Island Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 32–24 North: R. Robinson (2), S. Stowers
South: K. Baker (2), T. Marshall, M. Todd, A. Whitelock		 North: L. Munro (3), R. Robinson
South: K. Baker (3)		 7,427 [4]
5 September 2020 South Island Sky Stadium, Wellington 38–35 North: R. Ioane (2), D. McKenzie, A. Smith, A. Dixon
South: W. Jordan (2), N. Laulala, J. Barrett, T. Lomax		 North: D. McKenzie (5)
South: J. Barrett (6)		 0 [5]

References

Notes

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