All Blacks? Tall Blacks?

New Zealand’s sports teams have interesting names!

All rugby fans will recognize the New Zealand national rugby union team name: All Blacks. But do you know the origin of the name?

A common misconception is the name was based on a typographical error by a British newspaper writer who wrote that the team played as if they were “all backs” rather than traditional forwards, and the “All Blacks” name morphed from that quote. But the team had been called “All Blacks” before that mention.

The common explanation for the name is based on their uniform of a black jersey, black shorts, and black socks, which naturally led reporters to describe them by their “all black” colors.

But “Tall Blacks?” Yes, the New Zealand men’s national basketball team is called the “Tall Blacks.” This is an obvious nod to the internationally famous “All Blacks.”

What’s next? If New Zealand entered America’s National Football League would their team be called the “Fall Blacks?” A baseball team called “Ball Blacks?” A boxing team called “Brawl Blacks?” (and the list goes on)