New Zealand Māori rugby league team

New Zealand Māori is the name of a rugby league team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to be of at least 1/16th Māori descent. Like its union counterpart, the rugby league team competes in international competitions. As such it has participated in the Rugby League World Cup. With some controversy, the New Zealand Māori rugby league team was considered to be an international rugby league team. In the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, they will play just one match, a commemorative match against the Australian Aborigines. [1] This match will not form part of the competition.

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.

A separate body, the Māori Rugby League, was formed in 1934 to administer the game in Māori communities. This 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, 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 old Super League International Board at the height of the “war” that tore the game apart in the southern hemisphere.

The Māori team has participated in the Pacific Cup (since 1974), Superleague Oceania Tournament (1997), Papua New Guinea 50th Anniversary (1998), World Cup (2000), World Sevens Qualification (2003) and Pacific Rim (2004) competitions.

Their most recent match was against the Cook Islands on 8 October 2005, which was a 26-all draw.

See also

• New Zealand national rugby league team

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