New Zealand Māori rugby league team

Not to be confused with Māori All Blacks.
New Zealand Māori
Head coach Daryn Pirini
First international
 Australia 24–14 Māori 
(Sydney, Australia; 1908)
Biggest win
 Māori 61–3 Victoria Victoria (Australia)
(Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; 1974)
Biggest defeat
 Māori 0–29 Great Britain 
(Auckland, New Zealand; 20 July 1910)
World Cup
Appearances 1 (first time in 2000)
Best result Pool Stage

New Zealand Māori rugby league team is a rugby league representative side made up of New Zealand Māori players. The side represents the New Zealand Māori Rugby League. Like its union counterpart, the rugby league team competes in international competitions.

With some controversy, the team participated in the 2000 World Cup as Aotearoa Māori.[1] The Super League International Board had agreed to give a place in their World Cup to the New Zealand Māori team as they attempted to gain allies during the Super League war.[1] Despite that World Cup not taking place, the Rugby League International Federation repeated the offer for the 2000 World Cup when it replaced the Super League International Board following the end of the dispute.[1]

History

New Zealand Maori pre-match huddle before their clash with the Indigenous Dreamtime team before the start of the 2008 World Cup

A New Zealand Māori team first toured overseas in 1908 when they visited Australia. This tour was a success, and was followed by another tour to Australia in 1909 and to Great Britain in 1910.

Wairangi Koopu takes on the Indigenous line

The first game of international rugby league on New Zealand soil was between the Māori and the touring Great Britain Lions of 1910.[2]

A separate body, the Māori Rugby League Board of Control, was formed in 1934 to administer the game in Māori communities.[3] This governing body was later renamed the Aotearoa Māori Rugby League and in 1992 it was registered as an incorporated society.[3]

The Māori have had a wonderful record of beating international touring teams over the years. In 1983 they visited Britain and a side containing future Kiwis stars like Hugh McGahan, Dean Bell and Clayton Friend proved too strong for the amateur opposition they played. For many years, the Māori have competed in the Pacific Cup alongside other teams with a strong presence of New Zealand-based players—Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands, so they thought it was right they should have the opportunity to follow these teams to the World Cup. The invitation to the Māori to take part in the 2000 World Cup came about as a result of promises made to them by the defunct Super League International Board at the height of the Super League war that tore the game apart in the southern hemisphere.

The Māori team has participated in the Pacific Cup (since 1974), Super League's 1997 Oceania Cup, Papua New Guinea 50th Anniversary (1998), 2000 World Cup, World Sevens Qualification (2003) and Pacific Rim (2004) competitions.[3]

The Maori competed against Indigenous Dreamtime team on 26 October 2008 as the curtain raiser to the first match of the 2008 World Cup.[4][5] The Māori team lost 34-26.

In 2010, the Maori team played England at Mt. Smart Stadium in Auckland before the 2010 Rugby League Four Nations in New Zealand. After trailing 18-0 at halftime, the Maori came back to draw the match at 18-all.[6]

Maori Haka Meets Indigenous War Cry

In October 2013, the side faced the touring Murri Rugby League Team in a two-game series. The Maori side, featuring NRL players Charlie Gubb, Sam Rapira and Bodene Thompson, won the first game 48-18 at Davies Park, Huntly. The second game was played at Puketawhero Park, Rotorua and was won by the Maori side, 32-16.[7][8][9]

In October 2014, the team will travel to Australia to play against the Queensland Maori team at Owen Park, Southport and the Murri Rugby League Team at BMD Kougari Oval, Wynnum.

Jerseys

Primary

Primary
1974-2007
Primary
2008-present

Alternative

Alternative
1974-2007
Alternative
2008-present

Players

2008 squad

New Zealand Maori
2008 squad Coaching staff

Head coach


Legend:
  • (c) Captain
  • (vc) Vice captain

2014 squad[10]

Results

Year New Zealand Maori vs England
Winners Score Runners-Up
2008 Indigenous Dreamtime 34-26 New Zealand Maori
2010 New Zealand Maori 18-18 EnglandEngland Knights
2013 New Zealand Maori 40-18 Murri Rugby League Team
2013 New Zealand Maori 32-16 Murri Rugby League Team
2014 New Zealand Maori 46-22 Murri Rugby League Team

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Wilson, Andy (26 October 2000). "Maori role-model army signal intent". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
  2. ↑ John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 Years: Maori Rugby League, 1908-2008. New Zealand: Huia Publishers. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-86969-331-2. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 Sarah Leberman, Chris Collins, Linda Trenberth (2005). Sport business management in Aotearoa/ New Zealand (2 ed.). Thomson Learning Nelson. p. 69. ISBN 9780170128964. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  4. ↑ "World Cup moved to end of season". BBC Sport. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  5. ↑ Dawson, Cushla (14 June 2008). "NZ Maori name coaching staff for World Cup curtain raiser". Rugby League World Cup.
  6. ↑ "England escapes with draw against Maori". ABC News. October 16, 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  7. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/NITVAustralia/posts/10151739471347005
  8. ↑ http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/sport/nz-maori-comeback-victory
  9. ↑ http://www.nzrl.co.nz/nzrl-associates/nz-maori-.aspx
  10. ↑ https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1654444_940130392670537_8300723162946314891_n.jpg?oh=5208972edf520ed90130373dc843bba5&oe=54C58453&__gda__=1421929672_490dc0439c4dce8f0252c090bb573746

External links

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