the latter stages of the 1870s saw the emergence of a more formal structure, with unions being formed in both canterbury and wellington during 1879. in 1882, the first international rugby side toured new zealand, a new south wales side that visited both islands during the latter part of the year. two years later, a new zealand team visited new south wales, wearing blue jerseys with a golden fern. the team won all their games. in 1888, the first ever british isles rugby team tour took place, visiting new zealand and australia. the visitors won all their new zealand games except for one, losing to auckland. during 1888-89, the new zealand native team became the first from a colony to visit britain. in 1892 the new zealand rugby football union (nzrfu), now known as the new zealand rugby union (nzru), was established, to act as the national governing body of the sport. following the establishment of the national governing body, the first nzrfu national sanctioned tour was undertaken in 1893, when a ten-game tour of australia was played. the team was captained by thomas ellison.