List of 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team matches

[1][2] The team was privately organised by Joe Warbrick,[a] 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.

[5] 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.

[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.

The team continued their journey to New South Wales and Queensland, where they played mostly rugby.

Source: "Matches played – New Zealand Natives' rugby tour, 1888/89".

Photograph of the Native football team in their uniform of black shorts and jerseys sat in front of the flags of Great Britain and the United Tribes of New Zealand
The New Zealand Natives before their match against Queensland in July 1889, in front of the United Tribes flag and the Union Jack
A black and white photograph of 27 men arranged in four rows posing for a team shot. The players in the front rows are in black jerseys and white shorts, while those not playing are in suits to the back.
The New Zealand Native football team prior to playing Middlesex at Sheffield Park in October 1888