May 26 1956
South Island win inter-island match.
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.