By Jonathan Bowen
I have traveled the world attending rugby games for so many years. I have been on four British and Irish Lions Tours, I have attended three Rugby World Cups and attended more test matches, Munster and Melbourne Rebels games than I would probably like to admit.
Many people on my travels have tried to convince me that the home of Rugby Union is Twickenham Stadium in London. Now I agree with those people that rugby was established and founded in England and its birthplace was no doubt in England but to me rugby’s home isn’t in England. Only one country in the world worships the game and calls it its national sport. That country is of course New Zealand.
The All Blacks have dominated the game of rugby since they started playing it. The country’s men’s team has a win rate of over 75 percent since the inception of the game. That wins rate is better than Real Madrid, Manchester United and the New York Yankees. I think only the New York Yacht club may have a better win rate defending a trophy that was basically named after them, (The America’s Cup) due to their success.
New Zealand rugby have never had a trophy named after them, however their success continues even to this day. So it is only fitting that a museum be opened to honor the countries success in the game and how their success is so tightly linked to its community and ancestral beliefs.
The All-Blacks experience opened in Auckland back in 2020 and if timing was anything to go by it couldn’t have been opened at a worse time due to the Covid pandemic, but like all great things it was worth the wait.
The All-Blacks experience offers a comprehensive view of what it takes to make and be an All Black. All tours are done with a professional guide who explains how each section links back to both the community and to the game itself. If you have the money, getting a guided tour by an actual All Black is worth the investment.
I was fortunate enough to have a guided tour by All Black legends Ian Jones and Jeff Wilson. It was amazing to hear their personal stories about what it was to play for the All Blacks and which games and tournaments stood out for them as being the most memorable. Jeff Wilson will always be linked to that famous try saving tackle from ex Australian rugby legend, George Gregan.
The museum is made up of seven sections. When you enter the experience the first room invites you to understand how the Maori culture is linked to what it is to be All Black. The following room is a visual display which outlines the results of each game the All Blacks or Blackferns has played since the inception of the game. On the other side of this wall shows a list of ex All-Blacks and ex Blackferns players. The list is displayed in the form of a flowing river. The 4th room is a tribute to New Zealand club rugby and how without local club rugby there would be no All-Blacks rugby team. The tour then rolls into its first interactive zone before you have the experience of sitting in an All Blacks dressing room. Many ex-players say it is remarkable how close this room feels to the real thing.
The highlight of the tour must when all the people on the tour stand in a line and face the All Blacks preforming the Haka and the Blackferns preforming the Ko Uhia Mai. This experience really does raise the hairs on the back of your neck. I have never had the face the All Blacks’ Haka thankfully, but I have seen it performed enough times that I can tell you this experience is as close as you want to get to facing the actual thing. There is a fabulous interactive to round off the tour and then you are done.
The All-Blacks experience museum really is a must-see attraction when you travel to Auckland. You can find all the details on how to arrange a tour of the All-Blacks experience museum at experienceallblacks.com.