Unlike standard community clubs tied to a specific town or province, the New Zealand Barbarians Rugby Club (affectionately known as the Baa-Baas) is a legendary, invitation-only club. Modeled after the famous British Barbarians F.C., the NZ Barbarians are built on the foundational ethos that rugby should be played with adventurous, free-flowing flair and high-spirited camaraderie, unburdened by league tables or competition pressure.
The Birth of the Scarlet Jersey (1935–1937)
The club’s roots stretch back to the 1935 All Blacks tour of Great Britain.
The Inspiration: During the tour, All Black loose forward Hugh McLean spent an evening with Emile de Lissa, one of the original founders of the English Barbarians. McLean fell in love with the club’s philosophy of spreading good fellowship and adventurous rugby.
The First Unofficial Match (1937): Upon returning to New Zealand, McLean and his close friend, fellow All Black Ron Bush, were asked to assemble an invitation team for a charity match to help bail out the financially struggling Thames Valley sub-union. The match was an instant hit, generating crucial funds and proving that players loved playing free from rigid club structures.
Official Recognition (1938): After receiving formal permission from the foundation club in England to adopt the name, the New Zealand Barbarian Rugby Football Club took the field for its first official first-class fixture against Auckland on September 24, 1938, at Eden Park.
The Iconic Kit: The team ran out onto Eden Park in borrowed, bright scarlet red jerseys featuring a bouncing white lamb embroidered on the left breast—a distinct look they still wear proudly today. The Baa-Baas dismantled Auckland 43–21 in a display of breathtaking, open rugby.
Post-War Growth and Global Stages
Following World War II, the Barbarians relied heavily on heroes returning from the fabled 2nd NZEF “Kiwis” army team. They traveled extensively across the country, playing exhibition and benefit matches to rejuvenate regional rugby unions and raise money for charity (such as injured players’ insurance funds).
Over the decades, the club’s status grew to an international tier:
1956 mid-week spectacle: They hosted a legendary, hastily arranged mid-week festival match at Eden Park featuring a combined mix of All Blacks and touring South African Springboks before the South Africans sailed home.
International Tours: The NZ Barbarians took a highly successful tour party to England in 1987 (featuring many players who won the inaugural Rugby World Cup weeks prior). Subsequent high-profile tours to the UK followed in 1996 (where a Sean Fitzpatrick-led Baa-Baas side defeated England 34–19 at Twickenham) and again in 2003.
The Modern Era and Home Base
For decades, the club lacked a permanent home. In the early 1970s, they purchased a clubhouse on Cricket Avenue adjacent to Eden Park, which slowly transformed into a museum crammed full of priceless global rugby memorabilia.
When Eden Park was redeveloped for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the old clubhouse was demolished. In June 2010, the club moved into a magnificent, permanent new facility: The Barbarians Lounge, located on Level 6 of the North Stand at Eden Park.
Guardians of the Grassroots
As professional rugby changed the landscape of player availability for exhibition matches, the NZ Barbarians pivotally adjusted their focus toward youth and developmental rugby. Today, they remain incredibly active by:
Selecting and sponsoring the New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Barbarians Schools national teams.
Hosting massive, annual primary and middle-weight school fun days across the country to keep children engaged in the sport.
Selecting “Barbarians” regional squads to face touring international sides or the Māori All Blacks, ensuring that the spirit of pure, celebratory rugby remains vibrant.
