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Wellington, New Zealand, 1890. "Post and Telegraph Department football team with men in rugby football kit. Postmaster William Copeland seated behind man with ball." Glass negative by Frederick James Halse. View full size.
If that fine fellow standing second from left isn't one of the wee folk, I'll eat his hat!
This picture features a full rugby team of 15 men. It was taken a few years before the Rugby League game was created in 1895 involving teams of 13 men. Until recently Rugby Union was purely an amateur game whilst Rugby League was played professionally.
mouth guards were optional and no one has any teeth left?
Rugby is a thug's sport played by gentlemen.
Soccer is a gentlemen's sport played by thugs.
Okay, that's a British expression, but the New Zealanders probably say it too.
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