New Zealand national team nomenclature based on the "All Blacks"
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Many of the national sports teams of New Zealand have been given nicknames, officially or otherwise, based on the iconic status of the All Blacks rugby team, and (mostly in the case of female teams) the silver tree fern (Cyathea dealbata) of their logo.[1] The practice became controversial when Badminton New Zealand used the name "Black Cocks" for a period in 2004.[2]
| Nickname | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All Blacks | Rugby union (men) | During the Originals tour a London newspaper reported that the New Zealanders played as if they were "all backs" which, due to a typographical error, subsequently became "All Blacks".[3][4] However, the Express and Echo in Devon, reporting after the Originals match there, referred to "The All Blacks, as they are styled by reason of their sable and unrelieved costume."[4] |
| All Whites[5] | Football (men) | Named because the team wears white, due to a former FIFA regulation reserving black for referees. |
| Beach Blacks[6] | Beach volleyball (men) | |
| Beach Ferns[6] | Beach volleyball (women) | |
| Black Brooms[7] | Quidditch/Quadball | Disbanded 2023[8] |
| Black Caps[9] | Cricket (men) | Since January 1998, after a competition to choose a name for the team.[9] |
| Black Ferns[10] | Rugby union (women) | |
| Black Fins | Surf Life Saving team (mixed gender)[11] | |
| Underwater hockey (men)[12] | ||
| Black Foils[13] | SailGP team | |
| Blackjacks/Black Jacks[14] | Lawn Bowls (men and women) | derived from jack ball |
| Black Socks/Sox[15] | Softball (men) | Also derived from similarly named American teams |
| Black Sticks[16] | Field hockey (men and women) | |
| Diamondblacks[17] | Baseball (men) | Also derived from the similarly named Major League Baseball team and a reference to a baseball diamond[18][19] |
| E Blacks[20] | Esports | |
| Football Ferns[21] | Football (women) | |
| Futsal Whites/Futsalwhites[22] | Futsal (men) | |
| Ice Blacks[23] | Ice hockey (men) | |
| Ice Ferns[24] | Ice hockey (women) | |
| Inline Ferns[25] | Inline hockey (women) | |
| K-Blacks[26] | Kilikiti | |
| Kiwi Ferns[27] | Rugby League (women) | The men's team is known as the Kiwis |
| Mat Blacks[28] | Indoor bowls (men) | In reference to the playing mat |
| Silver Ferns[29][30] | Netball (women) | |
| Silver Fins[12] | Underwater hockey (women) | |
| Silver Blades[31] | Speed Skating | Named by Andrew Gous & Peter Michael in reference to the ice skate (speed skate) blades. |
| Steel Blacks/Iron Blacks[32][33] | American football (men) | In reference to "gridiron", a common name for the playing fields in American and Canadian football. |
| Tall Blacks[34] | Basketball (men) | In reference to the height of most professional basketball players |
| Tall Ferns[34] | Basketball (women) | |
| Volley Blacks[35] | Volleyball (men) | |
| Volley Ferns[35] | Volleyball (women) | |
| Wheel Blacks[36] | Wheelchair rugby (men) | |
| White Ferns[37] | Cricket (women) | |
| White Socks/Sox[38] | Softball (women) | Also derived from similarly named American teams |
