May 26 1956

South Island win inter-island match.

Record books will show the South win the 1956 inter-island match 13 -11. But with the test series against the Springboks looming and the North – South match played on May 26 in the midst of All Black trials, it was another trial match in all but name.


Ron Jarden - 2 tries.

The trial series started with the South Island trial in Christchurch on May 22, with the North Island trial in Palmerston North a day later. After the inter-island match in Wellington three days there were more matches:

  • May 30 New Zealand XV 30            The Rest 13                          In Wellington.
  • June 2 New Zealand XV 17            North Island XV 8                In New Plymouth
  • June 6 New Zealand XV 9              South Island XV 19             In Christchurch

This was the 48th inter-island match. The first was played in 1897, then annually from 1902 except for breaks during the two World Wars.

Of the 33 players who took the field in the 1956 inter-island match, 18 were among the 24 All Blacks who played in the four match test series against the Springboks.

Inter-island scorers:

South 13: Geo Anderson, Dennis Young and J R Watt tries. K C Stuart and P B Vincent conversions.

South 11: R A Jarden 2 tries. D B Clarke pen., J T Fitzgerald con.


The teams.