New Zealand Māori rugby league team is a

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

representative side made up of New Zealand Māori players. The side represents the

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

Rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

. Like its union counterpart, the rugby league team previously competed in international competitions. With some controversy, the team participated in the 2000 World Cup as Aotearoa Māori. 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 The Super League war was a commercial competition between the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and the Australian Super League to establish pre-eminence in professional rugby league competition in Australia and New Zealand in the mid-1990s. Super ...

. Despite that World Cup not taking place, the

Rugby League International Federation The International Rugby League (IRL) is the global governing body for the sport of rugby league football. Previously known as the ''Rugby League Imperial Board'', the '' International Rugby League Board'' and latterly the ''Rugby League Internat ...

repeated the offer for the 2000 World Cup when it replaced the Super League International Board following the end of the dispute.

History

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 2008

The first game of international rugby league on New Zealand soil was between the Māori and the touring Great Britain Lions of 1910. A separate body, the Māori Rugby League Board of Control, was formed in 1934 to administer the game in Māori communities. This governing body was later renamed the Aotearoa Māori Rugby League and in 1992 it was registered as an incorporated society. 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 Hugh Joseph McGahanMcGAHAN, Hugh Joseph 1982 - 90 - Kiwi #566

Dean Bell Dean Bell, also known by the nicknames of "Mean Dean", and "Deano", is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer, and coach. A New Zealand international representative centre, he played his club football in England, Australia a ...

and

Clayton Friend Clayton Ivan Friend (born 1964) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for New Zealand, and at club level for Carlisle (two spells), North Sydney Bears a ...

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

that tore the game apart in the southern hemisphere. The Māori team has participated in the

Pacific Cup The Pacific Cup was a rugby league football competition for national teams from the Pacific region. History The Pacific Cup was started in 1975 by Keith Gittoes of the New South Wales Rugby League.1974), Super League's 1997 Oceania Cup, Papua New Guinea 50th Anniversary (1998), 2000 World Cup, World Sevens Qualification (2003) and

Pacific Rim The Pacific Rim comprises the lands around the rim of the Pacific Ocean. The ''Pacific Basin'' includes the Pacific Rim and the islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Rim roughly overlaps with the geologic Pacific Ring of Fire. List of co ...

(2004) competitions. The Maori competed against

Indigenous Dreamtime team The Indigenous Australian rugby league team (also known as the Indigenous All Stars or Indigenous Dreamtime team) is a rugby league football team that represents Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. The team was first formed in 1 ...

on 26 October 2008 as the curtain raiser to the first match of the 2008 World Cup. 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 The Rugby League Four Nations (known as the Ladbrokes Four Nations in 2016, for sponsorship purposes) was a biennial rugby league football tournament run in partnership between the Australian Rugby League Commission, Rugby Football League and N ...

in New Zealand. After trailing 18–0 at halftime, the Maori came back to draw the match at 18–all. Aboriginal war dance meets Maori haka 2008 RLWC

In October 2013, the side faced the touring

Murri Rugby League Team The Murri Rugby League Team is a representative side for Indigenous rugby league players that play in the annual Queensland Murri Rugby League Carnival. History Arthur Beetson Foundation Murri tour of Hawaii Queensland Murri's faced the USA T ...

in a two–game series. The Maori side, featuring NRL players Charlie Gubb,

Sam Rapira Sam Rapira (born 8 April 1987) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who last played for Toulouse Olympique in the Betfred Championship. He played as a . A New Zealand international representative he previously played ...

and Bodene Thompson, won the first game 48–18 at Davies Park,

Huntly Huntly ( gd, Srath Bhalgaidh or ''Hunndaidh'') is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, formerly known as Milton of Strathbogie or simply Strathbogie. It had a population of 4,460 in 2004 and is the site of Huntly Castle. Its neighbouring settlement ...

. The second game was played at Puketawhero Park,

Rotorua Rotorua () is a city in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. The city lies on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, from which it takes its name. It is the seat of the Rotorua Lakes District, a territorial authority encompass ...

and was won by the Maori side, 32–16. In October 2014, the team will travel to Australia to play against the Queensland Maori team at Owen Park,

Southport Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England. Southport lies on the Iris ...

and the

at BMD Kougari Oval,

Wynnum Wynnum is a coastal suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Wynnum had a population of 12,915 people. The suburb is a popular destination in Brisbane due to its coastline, jetty and tidal wading pool. Geography Wynnu ...

. In 2018 they took part in the NRL Festival of Indigenous Rugby League held in Redfern Sydney against the First Nation Goannas, they were beat 22–16 in a thrilling finish.

Jerseys

Primary Alternative

Players

2008 squad

2010 Squad

2013 squad

Team Name Rohe 1. Zebastion Luisi, Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) – Howick Hornets. 2. Thyme Nikau, Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) – Howick Hornets 3. Hiwaroa Grant, Te Arawa (Bay of Plenty) – Taniwharau 4. Rusty Bristow, Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) – Papakura Sea Eagles 5. Ryan Gordon, Tauranga Moana (Coastline) – Otumoetai Eels 6. Cruz Rauner, Taranaki (Taranaki) – Waitara Bears 7. Cody Walker, Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) – Mount Albert Lions 8. Chris Fox, Waikato Maori (Waikato) – Taniwharau 9. Zach Tippins, Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) – Mount Albert Lions 10. Jay Pukepuke, Te Waipounamu (Canterbury) – Halswell Hornets 11. Rulon Nutira, Te Waipounamu (Canterbury) – Hornby Panthers 12. Arden McCarthy, Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) – Pt Chevalier Pirates 13. Dylan Moses, Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) – Pt Chevalier Pirates 14. Chance Tauri, Te Awa Kairangi (Wellington) – Te Aroha Eels 15. Tama Kaha, Te Awa Kairangi (Manawatu) – Levin Wolves 16. Tony Tuia, Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) – Howick Hornets 17. Dominic Bartells, Te Awa Kairangi (Wellington) – Wainuiomata Lions Coach: Darren Pirini, Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland)

2014 Squad

2018 Squad

2019 NRL Harvey Norman All–Stars

The 2019 All Stars match was the eighth annual representative exhibition All Stars match of Australian rugby league. The match was played between the Indigenous All Stars and the Māori All Stars for the first time, the match was played in Victoria's AAMI Park. The Indigenous All Stars won 34–14

2019 squad

2020 squad

2021 squad

2022 squad

Coaches

Also see '' :New Zealand Māori rugby league team coaches '' Win percentage is rounded to one decimal place. ;Key G: Games played W: Matches won D: Matches drawn L: Matches lost

Results

References

External links

''100 years of Māori rugby league 1908 – 2008''
Google Books {{DEFAULTSORT:New Zealand Maori Rugby League Team