New Zealand Lacrosse (‘NZL’)
This is the governing body for all Lacrosse in New Zealand.
In 2020, the NZL constitution was established and accepted by both the Men’s and Women’s associations to merge together to form the new governing body of New Zealand Lacrosse (NZL). The NZL board was then formed in 2021.
History of Lacrosse in New Zealand
Over two decades ago, a few English and American ex-pats found each other through searching links in New Zealand to their favourite sport. Their reluctance to give up their extra appendages (their lacrosse sticks) instigated the passion to start and grow the sport in New Zealand.
In 2000, a men’s senior league was started in Auckland, and a year later, the women’s league was established.
The efforts of the original founders resulted in tremendous growth in schools, clubs and national representative teams. Over the decades, lacrosse has been integrated into many schools’ athletic curriculum, with over 20 schools and 500 players participating in the Auckland Secondary Schools League. An estimated at least 900 school children across New Zealand are learning and playing the sport, or its modified version, ‘Modcrosse,’ at youth level each year.
National leagues are constantly growing with associations in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Manawatu and Canterbury. Club teams from each region compete in the official National Tournament held annually in January.
Just two years after its inception, New Zealand sent its first men’s team to the ILF World Cup in Perth, Australia, while it was in 2005 the Women’s National Team went to the IFWLA World Cup in Annapolis, USA. Further, the Women’s National Team (NZBLAX) growth is fostered by the Under-19 National Squad, who competed for the first time in 2007 at the Junior World Championships and the Development Squad. U15 and U18 teams regularly compete in the Australian National State Championships, helping to grow the skill level.
But the history of lacrosse in New Zealand goes back very far into the late nineteenth century. In 1877 there was already talk of establishing lacrosse clubs in New Zealand and Australia.
The first known game was August 1st 1877 in Alexandra with the Armed Constabulary playing Civilians, although there probably were other games played earlier. In Timaru by 1881 the import of lacrosse gear was being advertised
By 1885, teams were actively competing all over the country – Invercargill May 1885 as an example. Even a New Zealand V World event occurred (won by New Zealand 6-0). However, the arrival of World War I, its devastating impact on male players and the dominance of rugby as New Zealand’s most popular contact sport took over and we have few records of the game in the mid-twentieth century for men. Women though were still playing in some schools – such as Nga Tawa School in 1939.
It is of interest that some players took their lacrosse sticks to the front line in World War I and used then to throw grenades into the opposing trenches – skills we hope never to have to use again!
The First Championship and International Tour
The winners of the Kohn Badges—the first championship under the New Zealand Lacrosse Association—were crowned in 1899.
Among the players were Henry Blackler (middle far left, aged 26) and Randolph Eagleton (middle far right, aged 21). A press item records that Blackler scored two of the 11 winning goals in the 11–2 deciding match at Stichbury’s Paddock, with his team, the Pawnee, against the Iroquois.
Both Blackler and Eagleton went on to represent New Zealand in the 1904 Lacrosse Tour of Canada. Blackler’s original tour cap has been preserved as a piece of family history.
What is known about this early international tour:
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The Team’s Formation
The New Zealand team was mostly made up of players introduced to lacrosse through various local clubs. The sport was still in its infancy in the country, so the players were not as experienced as those from Canada or the United States, the dominant lacrosse nations at the time. -
The 1904 Tour
In 1904, the New Zealand team travelled to Canada to compete against Canadian sides. The tour was part of a broader effort to establish New Zealand’s presence in international lacrosse. Several matches were played, with the most notable being the First Test Match between New Zealand and Canada—a major milestone in the sport’s development in New Zealand. -
The Match Details
The first international match was played in Vancouver on 11 June 1904, as part of a series of games against Canadian teams. Canada, far more established in the sport, dominated the matches. Although outclassed, the New Zealand side’s participation was an important step in building the game at home. -
Team Roster
A complete roster of the New Zealand players has not been preserved, but records confirm that both Henry Blackler and Randolph Eagleton were part of the tour.
Henry Blackler is recognised as a key figure in the early history of lacrosse in New Zealand around the 1904 era. Randolph Eagleton also played a pivotal role in arranging the first international tour of a New Zealand lacrosse team to Canada.
Henry Blackler’s cap survives as a historic artefact from the tour. (Research Credit: Paul Watkins, great grandson of Henry Blackler)
See below for some interesting links:
Newspaper Articles:
(Credit: National Library of New Zealand)
Lacrosse in Auckland, 1885
Lacrosse in Invercargill, 1885
Lacrosse Auckland vs. Wellington, 1907
Images:
Wellington Lacrosse Team, 1885 (Credit: Alexander Turnball Library, Wellington)
First Auckland Lacrosse Team, 1900 (Credit: National Library of New Zealand)
Shamrock Lacrosse Team, Auckland, 1904 (Credit: Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19040929-16-2)
Lacrosse Carnival in Devonport (Auckland) (Credit: Auckland Library)
Auckland Lacrosse Association’s Championship (1900s) (Credit: Auckland Library)
Auckland Lacrosse Association (1890s) (Credit: Auckland Library)
Fancy dress lacrosse match, North Shore, 6 October 1900 (Credit: Auckland Library)
Another Fancy Dress image Auckland (1900) (Credit: Auckland of New Zealand)
Nga Tawa College 1937 (Credit: National Library of New Zealand)