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 The Museum currently has on display 34 exhibitions that cover the full breadth of rugby from famous All Black Tours, legendary All Blacks, World Cup, Schools through to Rugby Minnows.
The vast collection that the Museum currently has, can not all be displayed in the current premises, what is on display is only a small fraction of the Museum's collection.
Here are some of the exhibitions that the Musuem has on display.
The Origins of New Zealand Rugby, 1870
Portraits and memorabilia of C J Monro, who introduced the rugby code to this country. Monro's walking stick which he used to walk from Wellington to Petone and back to find a ground for New Zealand's first inter-provincial game.
The cabinet beneath this display contains some of the rarest books in New Zealand rugby, including the only copy in this country of "The Football Tour of the New South Wales team through New Zealand 1901 ".
One of the oldest known New Zealand match programmes, Wellington v New Zealand XV 1893.
The 1904 - 1908 British Showcase.
 This exhibition relates to the British tours in those years, with the items displayed
being mostly donated to the Museum by the family of A F Harding, a member of both teams (captain in 1908) who subsequently settled in New Zealand.
Items of note here include:
The two jerseys, that from 1904 is perhaps the oldest outside Great Britain. Both are surprisingly modern in appearance. The valuable collection of rugby caps. The tour cap for the 1904 British tour of Australia and New Zealand features a wallaby and the initials "A A R F T" (Anglo Australian Rugby Football Team). No mention of New Zealand at all. In fact that British team won all its 13 games in Australia, but only 2 out of 5 in New Zealand, an early demonstration of the strength of New Zealand rugby. The touch flag from the 1905 Wales v England test match.
Provincial Jersey Display
This colourful display, centred on a map of New Zealand, contains a jersey from each of the New Zealand's 27 provincial unions. It is one of the very few complete sets in the country.
Whistle & Coin Display
Two of our most historic items are included here.
The Evans/Frethey whistle. Used by Evans to referee the 1905/6 All Blacks, by Frethey in the rugby final at the 1924 Olympics (won by the U S A) and in refereeing the 1924/5 All Blacks. In fact, that whistle sent Cyril Brownlie off in the test against England at Twickenham in 1925, the first player to be dismissed in an international. The florin lent by New Zealand supporter D G Gray to enable the captains to toss at that 1925 test v England at Twickenham. Gray was so excited at his coin being used in this way that he had a rose embossed on one side, a fern on the other. Both whistle and coin came out of retirement to start the opening games of each of the four World Cup tournaments. The jersey All Black great Brian Lochore wore when he captained the World XV at The Rugby Football Union centennial in 1971. Kevin Kelleher's whistle that dismissed All Black "Pine Tree" Meads from Murrayfield during the 1967 test against Scotland.
Schools Rugby Display
School 1st XV rugby plays a major role within New Zealand communities.
Some of the oldest competitions are between College 1st XV's. The annual clash between Napier Boys High and Palmerston North Boys High is for the Polson Banner, reputed to be the oldest continuous interschool trophy.
An original Moascar Cup winner's medal, and information about this important trophy. Photo of the 1904 Te Aute College team, the first New Zealand school to tour overseas. 1st XV caps from Secondary Schools from around New Zealand.
1924/5 "Invincibles" Display including:
The kiwi mascot that was to be presented to the first team to beat the Invincibles. This team finished its tour in Canada, and were visited by a kind Canadian, with a can of worms for the kiwi mascot. The framed touch flags used in the four test matches.
Boots 'n Balls Cabinet including:
Our oldest rugby ball, signed by the New Zealand and Sydney University teams of 1913. The "Rugby Clog", in Netherlands rugby colours. An eight panel South African ball, dating back to the New Zealand Army tour of South Africa in 1919. Equipment relating to the inflating and lacing of balls, happily most of it now redundant. We think this display makes clear some of the benefits of technology. The size 16 (sixteen) boots New Zealand Universities, Manawatu and Wellington lock Adrian McKenzie had to lift whenever he jumped in the lineout.
Die Springbokke
The Springbok blazer of South African great, Dr Danie Craven.
The stone implement used by Stellenbosch Culture man and found on the Stellenbosch Rugby ground by Dr Danie Craven. One of the boots of "Okey" Geffin, who kicked South Africa to victory against the 1949 All Blacks. Mark Nicholl's explanation of why he took the field for the 4th test in 1928 in dirty shorts. The Springboks trying a Zulu war dance in that same 1928 test. Tacks and fish hooks dropped on Lancaster Park by anti-tour demonstrators in 1981.
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