Māori All Blacks


The Māori All Blacks, previously called the New Zealand Māori, are a rugby union team from New Zealand. A representative team of the New Zealand Rugby Union, a prerequisite for playing in the team is that the player has Māori whakapapa. In the past this rule was not strictly applied; non–Māori players who looked Māori were often selected in the team. These included a few Pacific island players and a couple of African descent. Today all players have their ancestry verified before selection in the team.
The team's first match was in 1888 against Hawke's Bay. This was followed by a tour of Europe in 1888 and 1889 where the team played their first games against national teams, beating Ireland in Dublin before losing to Wales and England. Their early uniforms consisted of a black jersey with a silver fern and white knickerbockers. The New Zealand Māori perform a haka—a Māori challenge or posture dance—before each match. The haka was later adopted by the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, as were their black shirts. In 2001, the Māori first performed the "Timatanga" haka, which describes the evolution of life and the creation of New Zealand from the four winds.
Since being given official status in 1910, the New Zealand Maori have selected some of rugby union's great players, including fullback George Nepia who played 46 games for New Zealand from 1924–30, halfback Sid Going who played 86 matches for his country and former New Zealand captain Tane Norton, who represented New Zealand in 61 games, including 27 tests, and later became president of the New Zealand Rugby Union.

History

Beginning

The 1888–1889 New Zealand Native football team organised by Joseph Warbrick was the first overseas team to tour the Home Nations, where the team became the first New Zealand side to perform a haka during its match v Surrey, and also the first to wear an all black uniform. It was however a wholly private endeavour.
The first New Zealand Māori team given official status was selected in 1910. That year the team toured New Zealand and Australia, playing a range of combined New Zealand provinces and Australian state teams. An American Universities squad was touring Australia at the same time and two fixtures were against the New Zealand Māoris. Both were played at Sydney and were won by the New Zealanders 14-11 and 21-3 respectively. In their 19 total matches played they won 12, drew 3 and lost 4 games.
The New Zealand Māoris had not played a match outside of New Zealand or Australia until 1926, when they undertook a European tour of France, England and Wales. They also played two games in New Zealand before they left, two more in Australia on the way, and also stopped in Sri Lanka for one game before travelling to France to start the European fixtures. On the return to New Zealand they stopped in Victoria, Australia for a final game in which they won 41-3. In all there were 40 games played. The New Zealand Māoris won 30 of those, drew 2 and lost 8. Full-back George Nepia remains as the most notable player of that period.
The team was renamed the Maori All Blacks in 2012, having been previously called the New Zealand Maori and New Zealand Maoris.
The team is a selection of the best of New Zealand's Māori rugby players and boasts a proud history of defeating national sides. In matches in New Zealand in 2010 to mark one hundred years of Māori All Blacks rugby, the team defeated Ireland and England, having beaten the British and Irish Lions in 2005. Many members have gone on to play for the All Blacks.

Māori All Blacks and apartheid

New Zealand has a long history of sporting contact with South Africa, especially through rugby union. Until the 1970s this resulted in discrimination against Māori players, since the apartheid political system in South Africa for most of the twentieth century did not allow people of different races to play sport together, and therefore South African officials requested that Māori players not be included in sides which toured their country. Despite some of New Zealand's best players being Māori, this was agreed to, and Māori were excluded from tours of South Africa, including the Māori All Blacks.
Nonetheless in the early period, South Africa did play the Māori All Blacks. In April 2010 it was revealed by Muru Walters that in 1956 Ernest Corbett, Minister of Māori Affairs, had told the team to deliberately lose to the Springboks "for the future of rugby". The Māori team lost 37-0. This was followed by Walters calling for the New Zealand government to apologise for the way it treated Māori rugby players.

Professional era

The professional era in Māori rugby union began in 1994, marked 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 the England Saxons in extra time in the final of the Churchill Cup in Canada.
One of their two annual tournaments is a competition involving the Pacific top national teams, the Pacific Nations Cup. From 2008 they replaced the Junior All Blacks, where they were undefeated champions, narrowly beating Australia A in the final game of the tournament. The Churchill Cup was another, winning in 2004 and in 2006, defeating Ireland A and the USA in pool play in Santa Clara, California and Scotland A in the final in Edmonton, Alberta.
In 2005 the Māori beat the British and Irish Lions for the first time in an official match. Their preparations for this match forced them to withdraw from the 2005 Churchill Cup. In August 2012, NZRU announced the Māori All Blacks would play three matches in the United Kingdom, including an international fixture against Canada. Jamie Joseph was coach with assistance from Daryl Gibson.

Haka

One of the New Zealand Natives' legacies was the haka, a traditional Māori posture dance with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet, to the accompaniment of rhythmically shouted words; this was first performed during a match on 3 October 1888 against Surrey in England, United Kingdom. The haka was later adopted by the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks.
In 2001, the Māori first performed the "Timatanga" haka, which describes the evolution of life and the creation of New Zealand from the four winds. This was written especially for the New Zealand Maori team by team kaumātua Whetu Tipiwai. It tells the Maori story of the creation from the void, the nothingness, the darkness to what we have today. It also tells of a gathering of young warriors, young chiefs, young rugby players who are making a statement and setting aims, objectives and strategies to achieve matauranga, whanaunatanga and taumatatanga.

Matches against international sides

New Zealand Māori matches against international sides, including the New Zealand Natives 1888 and 1889 tour. These results are only against full international sides, including the British and Irish Lions, but not against second national teams.
Opposing TeamsForAgainstResultDateVenueCityCompetition
134Won1888-12-01Lansdowne RoadDublinNew Zealand Natives tour to British Isles
05Lost1888-12-22St. Helen'sSwanseaNew Zealand Natives tour to British Isles
07Lost1889-02-16Rectory FieldBlackheathNew Zealand Natives tour to British Isles
126Won1913-09-27Alexandra ParkAucklandAustralia Tour Match
89Lost1921-09-07McLean ParkNapierSouth Africa Tour Match
2522Won1922-06-24Royal Agricultural ShowgroundSydneyTour Match
1328Lost1922-06-26Royal Agricultural ShowgroundSydneyTour Match
2322Won1922-07-08Royal Agricultural ShowgroundSydneyTour Match
1421Lost1922-08-19Athletic ParkWellingtonFriendly
2327Lost1923-06-16Royal Agricultural ShowgroundSydneyTour Match
1621Lost1923-06-23Royal Agricultural ShowgroundSydneyTour Match
1214Lost1923-06-25Royal Agricultural ShowgroundSydneyTour Match
123Won1926-12-26Stade Olympique Yves-du-ManoirParisTour Match
1837Lost1929-10-02Athletic ParkWellingtonFriendly
British Lions1319Lost1930-07-09Athletic ParkWellingtonBritish Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
314Lost1931-09-09FMG StadiumPalmerston NorthAustralia Tour Match
631Lost1936-09-23FMG StadiumPalmerston NorthAustralia Tour Match
33Draw1938-08-20Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
511Lost1938-08-24Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
63Won1938-08-27Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
414Lost1939-09-16Rugby ParkHamiltonFiji Tour Match
200Won1946-09-25Rugby ParkHamiltonAustralia Tour Match
226Won1948-07-31Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
89Lost1948-08-04Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
146Won1948-08-07Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
123Won1949-06-04Sydney Cricket GroundSydneyTour Match
88Draw1949-06-11Brisbane Exhibition GroundBrisbaneTour Match
318Lost1949-06-25Sydney Cricket GroundSydneyTour Match
British and Irish Lions914Lost1950-08-02Athletic ParkWellingtonLions Tour Match
1421Lost1951-09-05Athletic ParkWellingtonTour Match
2228Lost1952-07-26Athletic ParkWellingtonFriendly
1219Lost1954-08-14Churchill ParkLautokaTour Match
168Won1954-08-21Buckhurst ParkSuvaTour Match
96Won1954-08-24Buckhurst ParkSuvaTour Match
037Lost1956-08-25Eden ParkAucklandSouth Africa Tour Match
1336Lost1957-08-10Athletic ParkWellingtonFiji Tour Match
817Lost1957-08-24CarisbrookDunedinFiji Tour Match
1415Lost1958-06-14Brisbane Exhibition GroundBrisbaneTour Match
33Draw1958-06-28Sydney Cricket GroundSydneyTour Match
136Won1958-07-05Olympic Park StadiumMelbourneTour Match
268Lost1958-07-09Eden ParkAucklandFriendly
British and Irish Lions612Lost1959-09-05Eden ParkAucklandLions Tour Match
1627Lost1960-05-21Teufaiva Sport StadiumNuku'alofaTour Match
286Won1960-06-04Apia ParkApiaTour Match
315Won1960-06-11Apia ParkApiaTour Match
53Won1961-07-29McLean ParkNapierFrance Tour Match
269Won1964-07-25Buckhurst ParkSuvaTour Match
39Lost1965-08-28Athletic ParkWellingtonSouth Africa Tour Match
British and Irish Lions1416Lost1966-08-13Eden ParkAucklandLions Tour Match
1926Lost1969-08-16Lancaster ParkChristchurchTonga Tour Match
619Lost1969-09-06Eden ParkAucklandTonga Tour Match
116Won1970-07-25Lancaster ParkChristchurchFiji Tour Match
99Draw1970-08-08Eden ParkAucklandFiji Tour Match
British and Irish Lions1223Lost1971-06-02Eden ParkAucklandLions Tour Match
116Won1973-05-10Apia ParkApiaTour Match
120Won1973-05-12Apia ParkApiaTour Match
311Lost1973-05-22Teufaiva Sport StadiumNuku'alofaTour Match
64Won1973-06-02Buckhurst ParkSuvaTour Match
93Won1973-06-09Churchill ParkLautokaTour Match
818Lost1973-08-08Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaFriendly
249Won1974-08-17Eden ParkAucklandFiji Tour Match
3925Won1974-08-31Athletic ParkWellingtonFiji Tour Match
2316Won1975-07-19Rugby ParkNew PlymouthTonga Tour Match
377Won1975-08-02Eden ParkAucklandTonga Tour Match
196Won1976-07-17Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaSamoa Tour Match
248Won1976-07-24Eden ParkAucklandSamoa Tour Match
British and Irish Lions1922Lost1977-07-13Eden ParkAucklandLions Tour Match
1913Won1979-05-19Buckhurst ParkSuvaTour Match
263Won1979-05-22Apia ParkApiaTour Match
269Won1979-05-25Teufaiva Sport StadiumNuku'alofaTour Match
229Won1980-08-30Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaFiji Tour Match
1212Draw1981-08-25McLean ParkNapierSouth Africa Tour Match
1925Lost1982-11-13National StadiumCardiffTour Match
663Won1982-11-20Campo Central de la Ciudad UniversitariaMadridTour Match
284Won1983-06-06Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaTonga Tour Match
524Won1983-06-13Eden ParkAucklandTonga Tour Match
2212Won1988-11-05Instalaciones Deportivas La CartujaSevilleTour Match
2917Won1992-10-10National StadiumRaratongaTour Match
3310Won1992-10-24Teufaiva Sport StadiumNuku'alofaTour Match
3534Won1992-10-31National StadiumSuvaTour Match
British and Irish Lions2024Lost1993-05-29Athletic ParkWellingtonLions Tour Match
3413Won1994-06-04Lancaster ParkChristchurchFiji Tour Match
2815Won1996-06-14Ericsson StadiumAucklandSamoa Tour Match
2510Won1996-11-01National StadiumSuvaTour Match
2920Won1996-11-08Teufaiva Sport StadiumNuku'alofaTour Match
3917Won1997-06-14McLean ParkNapierArgentina Tour Match
3420Won1997-08-21Apia ParkApiaTour Match
667Won1998-06-19Lowe Walker StadiumWhangareiTonga Tour Match
6214Won1998-06-23Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaEngland Tour Match
248Won1998-11-14Murrayfield StadiumEdinburghTour Match
5720Won1999-08-03National StadiumSuvaTour Match
1815Won2000-06-17Yarrow StadiumNew PlymouthScotland Tour Match
2941Lost2001-06-09Sydney Football StadiumSydneyTour Match
4324Won2001-06-26Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaArgentina Tour Match
2327Lost2002-06-15Subiaco OvalPerthTour Match
4712Won2003-06-02North Harbour StadiumAlbanyTonga Tour Match
923Lost2003-06-09Yarrow StadiumNew PlymouthEngland Tour Match
6527Won2003-07-26KingslandCalgaryTour Match
309Won2003-08-02York StadiumTorontoTour Match
6931Won2004-06-12Calgary Rugby ParkCalgaryChurchill Cup
2927Won2005-06-03Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
British and Irish Lions1913Won2005-06-11Waikato StadiumHamiltonLions Tour Match
746Won2006-06-08Buck Shaw StadiumSanta ClaraChurchill Cup
5923Won2007-05-26Franklin's GardensNorthamptonChurchill Cup
209Won2008-06-07North Harbour StadiumAlbanyPacific Nations Cup
117Won2008-06-14Churchill ParkLautokaPacific Nations Cup
176Won2008-06-21Waikato StadiumHamiltonPacific Nations Cup
6522Won2008-06-28McLean ParkNapierPacific Nations Cup
3128Won2010-06-18Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaCentenary Series Match
3528Won2010-06-23McLean ParkNapierCentenary Series Match
3219Won2012-11-23Oxford UniversityOxfordTour Match
4015Won2013-11-03BMO FieldTorontoTour Match
2919Won2013-11-09PPL ParkPhiladelphiaTour Match
6121Won2014-11-01Noevir StadiumKobeTour Match
2018Won2014-11-08Chichibunomiya Rugby StadiumTokyoTour Match
2726Won2015-07-11ANZ National StadiumSuvaFiji Tour Match
547Won2016-11-04Toyota ParkChicagoMāori All Blacks tour to Northern Hemisphere
1032Lost2017-06-17Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaBritish and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
519Won2017-11-03BC PlaceVancouverMāori All Blacks tour to Northern Hemisphere
5922Won2018-11-03Soldier FieldChicagoMāori All Blacks tour to America and South America
353Won2018-11-10Estádio do MorumbiSão PauloMāori All Blacks tour to America and South America
730Won2018-11-17Estadio San Carlos de ApoquindoLas CondesMāori All Blacks tour to America and South America
1027Lost2019-07-13ANZ National StadiumSuvaMāori All Blacks and Fiji two-match series
2617Won2019-07-20Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaMāori All Blacks and Fiji two-match series

Overall

Players

Current squad

On 3 July 2019, Clayton McMillan named a 26-man squad for a two-match series against Fiji in July.
On 10 July 2019, it was confirmed three new players joined the squad. Billy Harmon, Haereiti Hetet, and Pouri Rakete-Stones replaced Elliot Dixon who withdrew from the squad and Ben May who was ruled out with injury.
Note: Caps correct as of 10 July 2019

Notable players