Match of the Century (rugby union)

The Match of the Century

A scrum during the match
Event	"The Originals" Tour
Wales New Zealand 3 0
Wales won by a try to nothing.
Date	16 December 1905
Venue	Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Referee	John Dallas (Scotland)
Attendance	47,000

The Match of the Century (Welsh: Gêm y Ganrif) is the unofficial name of a rugby union Test match played between Wales and New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park on 16th December 1905 in front of a crowd of 47,000. The game was billed as the "Match of the Century" or "The World Championship" as it was a first meeting of the top two international teams.

The match was part of New Zealand's "Originals" tour and was their only loss in 35 matches. The result provoked much debate, with later writers noting its impact on the sporting culture of both countries. The Welsh crowd's singing of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau as a response to the All Blacks' Haka is often cited as the first national anthem to be sung before an international sports event.^[1]