in new zealand there are 520 clubs, 141,726 registered players and 2309 referees. in colonial new zealand, rugby football served to maintain loyalty to the crown within the emigrant population, whilst introducing british culture to the māori population. it was the new zealand natives' rugby tour of 1888/89 showed that new zealand could compete with other nations. similarly, the 1905-06 tour, in which the all blacks went very close to a clean sweep tour (with just one loss against wales), helped to create a sense of national pride around the all blacks, as they appeared physically superior and pulled off an admirable performance on their british tour. it is also thought that this saw the emergence of the kiwi as a national symbol. rugby dominates new zealand's sports media. being the unofficial national winter sport of new zealand, rugby attracts large sporting attendances and viewership. as many as 5000 people have turned out to watch all black training sessions, while the final of 2011 rugby world cup was the single most watched television event in new zealand history. there is a pay tv channel dedicated to rugby in new zealand.