The 1907/08 New Zealand tour of Australia and Great Britain arrived in York on the 29th January 1908. This first ever professional rugby tour was organised by Albert Baskiville, a New Zealand rugby player. The tour party included an Australian player called Herbert (Dally) Messenger whose important contribution to rugby league in Australia is recognised in the end of season ‘Dally M’ awards.
Herbert (Dally ) Messenger
Originally known as the All Blacks the touring team became known as the All Golds possibly because they were paid for playing.
The All Golds played ten games in Australia, thirty five in Great Britain and one in Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
The game against York took place on a Wednesday, only four days after the All Golds had played the Northern Union, at Headingley.
York won the game by 5 points to 3 against a team that included Dally Messenger and a New Zealand player called Lancelot Beaumont (Lance) Todd. Todd signed for Wigan after the tour and then managed Salford in the 1930s. His contribution to rugby league in Great Britain both as a player, administrator and radio commentator is recognised by the awarding of the Lance Todd Trophy to the player of the match in the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final.
