 The success of the Originals had uncomfortable consequences for the amateur NZRFU . In 1907 , a party of professional players was assembled to tour the British Isles and play rugby league – a professional offshoot of rugby union that was played by clubs that split from England 's Rugby Football Union ( RFU ) due to disagreements over financial compensation for players . When the All Golds , as the team came to be known , returned they established rugby league in New Zealand , and a large number of players switched to the professional code . English and Welsh authorities were alarmed by the threat of professionalism to rugby in New Zealand , and in 1908 an Anglo @-@ Welsh side undertook a tour to New Zealand to help promote the amateur values under which they believed sport should be played . The tourists were defeated 2 – 0 in the three @-@ test series by New Zealand , but the Anglo @-@ Welsh did manage to draw the second test 3 – 3 . 
