The
North vs South match, sometimes known as the
Interisland match was a longstanding
rugby union fixture in
New Zealand. The first game was played in 1897, and the match became an annual fixture from 1902. Matches ceased during
World War I from 1915-1918, but during
World War II only the 1940, 1941 and 1942 games were cancelled, with competition resuming in 1943. The last annual match was played in 1995, with a one-off game at Dunedin's
Forsyth Barr Stadium in 2012 to help fund raise for the financially troubled
Otago Rugby Football Union, which was won by the South 34-24. Most early games were played in one of the four main cities, but from 1970 onwards the fixture was rotated around a number of provincial centres.