Kiwis invite legend Johns on tour

[Spewing]

Johns could swap Australia's green and gold for New Zealand's colours

Legendary Australia scrum-half Andrew Johns has been invited to turn out for New Zealand on their centenary tour of Great Britain later this year.

The offer has been made to honour the contribution of Dally Messenger, the Australian who played for the Kiwis on their first British tour back in 1907.
The 32-year-old Johns retired from representative rugby in 2005.
New Zealand have also asked Ruben Wiki and Nigel Vagana to come out of international retirement for the tour.
Messenger, one of Australian rugby league's all-time greats, was a guest player in the first-ever international between New Zealand - known as the All Golds - and the Northern Union in 1907.

"Having the status of players like that playing in a game to mark our centenary and the birth of international rugby league - and to mark the end of their representative careers - is a pretty good formula for us," said NZRL general manager Peter Cordtz.
Johns is widely regarded as one of the best rugby league players the sport has ever produced, having won the Golden Boot as the international game's outstanding player twice.
He won 21 caps for the Kangaroos - winning the 1995 and 2000 World Cups - in addition to an illustrious State of Origin career with New South Wales.
Wiki, the most-capped player in rugby league, and Vagana announced their retirement from international rugby after last November's Tri Nations Series final defeat by Australia. New Zealand are expected to play three Tests against Great Britain in addition to other warm-up matches.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Lets hope he doesn't get injured before it.

When Johns went over to England to play for Warrington, within a few days of his arrival, the club sold around 3,000 jersey's with his name on it.

It would be good exposure for RL in Britain if he plays.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

I don't reckn he'll play for the All Golds but it'd be good if he did. I don;t think they wear black and white though. Can anyone confirm?

 

[Ancient and Loyal]

It's a Black Jersey like the, err All Blacks one (Very creative with the names those early Kiwis were). 'All Golds' was a derisive name meant to mock thier Professional status that developed into a badge of pride. The SMH adopted the name with a particular relish and zeal.

 

[I_LUV_AFL]

It's a Black Jersey like the, err All Blacks one (Very creative with the names those early Kiwis were). 'All Golds' was a derisive name meant to mock thier Professional status that developed into a badge of pride. The SMH adopted the name with a particular relish and zeal.

I was aware of the origination of that name but I wasn't aware of there colours. Thanks for clearing that up.