Film on history of All Black jersey to premiere Sept 13

A film called The Making of Black, about the history of the All Black jersey, will premiere at Auckland's Rialto Newmarket next Sunday.

The black jersey strikes fear into many rugby opponents — and four million Kiwi rugby fans are hoping the victorious captain will be wearing it after the Rugby World Cup final on November 1.

After more than 120 years of our national rugby team wearing black jerseys, the famed All Black top is now set for the movie theatre.

The Making of Black will premiere at Auckland's Rialto Newmarket next Sunday. The 60-minute documentary gives a unique insight into the history of the jersey, from those who have worn it, and opposed it, as well as adidas designers of the new high-tech version our men in black will wear at the World Cup.

International rugby stars who feature include Bismarck du Plessis, JP Pietersen, Gareth Edwards, Martin Johnston, Thierry Dusautoir and John Eales.

New Zealand greats include Sir Colin Meads, Wayne "Buck" Shelford and long-standing captain Richie McCaw.

"Black to me is relentless. Black to me has no excuses. It just keeps coming at you," McCaw says in the documentary.

Fellow test veteran Ma'a Nonu adds that black is "like blood for the All Blacks. It is in all of us".

The latest jersey was the result of two years development and testing, at a reported cost of more than $440,000.

The high-tech fabric is designed to stretch in a way that copies skin stretch. Dynamic Stretch Analysis used in creating the strip is also used in the aerospace industry to test where aircraft wings should be reinforced.

Simon Cartwright, global vice-president of adidas rugby, said the All Blacks jersey was unique in the world of sport.

"There is probably no other jersey in the history of sport that has the same kind of depth of feeling."