The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport. The All Blacks are the Rugby World Cup champions, the IRB's current Team of the Year, the leading points scorers of all time and the only international rugby team with a winning record against every test nation they have played. The All Blacks have held the top ranking in the world for longer than all other countries combined and in over 100 years only five test rugby nations have ever beaten New Zealand.

Starting in 2012, New Zealand will compete with Argentina, Australia and South Africa in The Rugby Championship, known as the Tri Nations before Argentina's entry in 2012. The All Blacks have won the trophy a record ten times (in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010) in the competition's 16-year history. They are the current holders of the Rugby World Cup and the Bledisloe Cup competed for annually with Australia, with the All Blacks currently on the second-longest winning streak holding the Trans-Tasman trophy since 2003. They also hold the Freedom Cup; contested annually with South Africa and have completed a Grand Slam, defeating all four Home Nations during one tour, four times (in 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010).

Conrad Gerard Smith (born 12 October 1981 in Hawera, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He is a midfield back and plays outside centre (13). He had been in many Taranaki age group teams. He moved to Wellington where he completed an LLB(Hons) at Victoria University of Wellington. Smith has also been admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the High Court of New Zealand

He plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup. He was named captain of the Hurricanes for the 2007 Super 14 campaign as regular captain Rodney So'oialo was rested ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Smith attended Francis Douglas Memorial College and was a resident of Weir House whilst at Victoria University. He made his All Black debut age 22, versus Italy in 2004. In the 50 tests he has played he has scored a total of 105 test points (21 tries). He is affiliated with Old Boys University in the Wellington club rugby competition.

Smith's elusive running, die-hard tackling, deceptive turn of pace, as well as his guile and accuracy in his distribution, make him very handy at centre to provide a link between the inside backs and the back three (11, 14, 15).

Ma'a Allan Nonu ( /ˈmɑːʔɑː ˈnɒnuː/; born 21 May 1982 in Wellington, New Zealand) is a professional rugby union player from New Zealand. Nonu plays for the Blues in Super Rugby and All Blacks internationally. He also plays for the Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup. He plays in the second-five eighth position (called inside centre in Europe), but can also cover (outside) centre and wing.

Nonu has been known for his blonde-streaked dreadlocks and former penchant for wearing eyeliner on the field. He is equally well known for his explosiveness and powerful attacking runs and regularly breaks the defensive line at will. All Blacks coach Graham Henry has described him as "probably the best linebreaker in this game in this country."

Nonu has a similar attacking skillset to former All Black centre Tana Umaga. Like Umaga, he is an exceptional crash ball runner who excels at breaking the line and creating space for outside backs. In 2005, Henry described Nonu as "young Tana," underlining the impression that he was being groomed as a potential successor to Umaga. This comparison has been confirmed in recent times by Wayne Smith.

Aaron Cruden (born 8 January 1989) is a Rugby World Cup-winning New Zealand rugby union player, who plays for Manawatu Turbos in the ITM Cup, Chiefs in Super Rugby, and the All Blacks. He made his debut for the All Blacks in 2010. Cruden's usual position is fly-half.

Cruden was born in Palmerston North and attended Palmerston North Boys' High School. He captained the 2006 Palmerston North Boys' High School 1st XV which included the likes of Kurt Baker and Andre Taylor.

He was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 19, which necessitated the removal of one of his testicles. The cancer has since gone into remission.

In 2008 Cruden attended the High Performance Player's Course at the International Rugby Academy NZ (IRANZ). Cruden's Positional Coach was former All Black Grant Fox and Course Facilitator former All Black Jeff Wilson.

Cruden made his provincial debut for Manawatu Turbos in 2008 and captained New Zealand to the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship title in 2009 in Japan, as well as being named IRB Junior Player of the Year 2009.