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HISTORY Rugby Union The rugby union team was the first overseas team to tour Britain , as the 'New Zealand Natives', in 1888/89. They played three or four times a week for a total of 74 games, of which they won 49. The tour also visited Australia, making it the longest tour—over a year, with a total of 107 matches, of which the Natives won 78, drew 6 and lost 23. One of the New Zealand Natives' greatest legacies was the Haka , a traditional Māori war dance that was later adopted by the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks , as were their black shirts (previous New Zealand sides had worn navy blue). Since being given official status in 1910, the New Zealand Māori have produced some of world rugby union's most outstanding athletes, including fullback George Nepia who played 46 games for the All Blacks 1924-1930, halfback Sid Going who played 86 matches for his country and former All Blacks captain Tane Norton, who represented New Zealand in 61 games, including 27 tests, and later became President of the New Zealand Rugby Union. The team lost only four of its 26 games played between 1994 and 2004, including beating England , Argentina , Scotland and Fiji . The Māori continued their winning form in 2004 beating England in extra time in the final of the Churchill Cup in Canada. In 2005 the Māori beat the British And Irish Lions for the first time in an official match. Rugby League 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 |
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