Māori All Blacks
UnionNZRU
Emblem(s)Silver fern
Coach(es)Clayton McMillan
Captain(s)Brad Weber
Team kit
First match
New Zealand Hawke's Bay 0–5 New Zealand Natives New Zealand
(23 June 1888)
Largest win
British Columbia British Columbia 3–111 New Zealand Māori New Zealand
(9 June 2004)
Largest defeat
New Zealand New Zealand Maoris 0–37 South Africa 
(25 August 1956)
Official website
www.allblacks.com/teams/maori-all-blacks/

The Māori All Blacks, previously called the New Zealand Maori, New Zealand Maoris and New Zealand Natives, are a rugby union team from New Zealand. They are a representative team of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and a prerequisite for playing is that the player has Māori whakapapa (genealogy). 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 Māori have selected some of rugby union's great players, including fullback George Nēpia who played 46 games for New Zealand from 1924 to 1930, 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 New Zealand Natives' football team prior to playing Queensland in July 1889

The 1888–1889 New Zealand Native football team organised by Joseph Warbrick toured New Zealand, Australia, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The team became the first New Zealand side to perform a haka during its match v Surrey,[1] and also the first to wear an all black uniform. It was a wholly private endeavour, not organised by the NZRU.

The first New Zealand Māori team given official status was selected in 1910.[1] 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 Maoris. 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 team that toured to Europe in 1926–27

The New Zealand Maoris had not played a match outside 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 Maoris won 30 of those, drew 2 and lost 8. Full-back George Nēpia remains the most notable player of that period.[1]

Māori players and South Africa

New Zealand has a long history of sporting contact with South Africa, especially in rugby union. Until the 1970s, this involved discrimination against Māori players, since the segregationist laws in South Africa for most of the twentieth century did not allow people of different races to play sport together. South African officials requested that Māori players not be included in teams which toured the country. Despite some of New Zealand's best players being Māori, this was agreed to, and Māori players were excluded from the first three tours of South Africa by New Zealand, in 1928, 1949 and 1960.

Nonetheless, in the early period of apartheid, during their 1956 tour South Africa did play the Māoris in New Zealand. In April 2010 Muru Walters said 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 Māoris lost 37–0. This was followed by Walters calling for the New Zealand government to apologise for the way it treated Māori rugby players.[2]

Professional era

British & Irish Lions playing the New Zealand Maori in 2005

The professional era in rugby union began in 1995. 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 the Pacific Nations Cup, a competition involving the Pacific top national teams. From 2008 they replaced the Junior All Blacks, and they were undefeated champions, narrowly beating Australia A in the final game of the tournament. The Churchill Cup was another, which they won 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 & Irish Lions for the first time in an official match. Their preparations for this match caused them to withdraw from the 2005 Churchill Cup. In August 2012, the NZRU announced the Māori All Blacks would play three matches in the United Kingdom, including a fixture against Canada. Jamie Joseph was coach with assistance from Daryl Gibson.[3]

In matches in New Zealand in 2010 to mark one hundred years of the team, they defeated Ireland and England.

The team was renamed the Māori All Blacks in 2012, having previously been called the New Zealand Maori and New Zealand Maoris. Many members have gone on to play for New Zealand.

Haka

Performing the haka prior to their match against the United States in 2013

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 (elder) 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 (knowledge), whanaunatanga (unity) and taumatatanga (excellence).

Honours

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 & Irish Lions, but not against second national teams.[4]

Opposing TeamsForAgainstResultDateVenueCityCompetition
 Ireland134Won1888-12-01Lansdowne RoadDublinNew Zealand Natives tour to British Isles
 Wales05Lost1888-12-22St. Helen'sSwanseaNew Zealand Natives tour to British Isles
 England07Lost1889-02-16Rectory FieldBlackheathNew Zealand Natives tour to British Isles
 Australia126Won1913-09-27Alexandra ParkAucklandAustralia Tour Match
 South Africa89Lost1921-09-07McLean ParkNapierSouth Africa Tour Match
 Australia2522Won1922-06-24Royal Agricultural ShowgroundSydneyTour Match
 Australia1328Lost1922-06-26Royal Agricultural ShowgroundSydneyTour Match
 Australia2322Won1922-07-08Royal Agricultural ShowgroundSydneyTour Match
 New Zealand1421Lost1922-08-19Athletic ParkWellingtonFriendly
 Australia2327Lost1923-06-16Royal Agricultural ShowgroundSydneyTour Match
 Australia1621Lost1923-06-23Royal Agricultural ShowgroundSydneyTour Match
 Australia1214Lost1923-06-25Royal Agricultural ShowgroundSydneyTour Match
 France123Won1926-12-26Stade Olympique Yves-du-ManoirParisTour Match
 New Zealand1837Lost1929-10-02Athletic ParkWellingtonFriendly
British Lions1319Lost1930-07-09Athletic ParkWellingtonBritish Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
 Australia314Lost1931-09-09FMG StadiumPalmerston NorthAustralia Tour Match
 Australia631Lost1936-09-23FMG StadiumPalmerston NorthAustralia Tour Match
 Fiji33Draw1938-08-20Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
 Fiji511Lost1938-08-24Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
 Fiji63Won1938-08-27Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
 Fiji414Lost1939-09-16Rugby ParkHamiltonFiji Tour Match
 Australia200Won1946-09-25Rugby ParkHamiltonAustralia Tour Match
 Fiji226Won1948-07-31Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
 Fiji89Lost1948-08-04Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
 Fiji146Won1948-08-07Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
 Australia123Won1949-06-04Sydney Cricket GroundSydneyTour Match
 Australia88Draw1949-06-11Brisbane Exhibition GroundBrisbaneTour Match
 Australia318Lost1949-06-25Sydney Cricket GroundSydneyTour Match
British Lions914Lost1950-08-02Athletic ParkWellingtonLions Tour Match
 Fiji1421Lost1951-09-05Athletic ParkWellingtonTour Match
 New Zealand2228Lost1952-07-26Athletic ParkWellingtonFriendly
 Fiji1219Lost1954-08-14Churchill ParkLautokaTour Match
 Fiji168Won1954-08-21Buckhurst ParkSuvaTour Match
 Fiji96Won1954-08-24Buckhurst ParkSuvaTour Match
 South Africa037Lost1956-08-25Eden ParkAucklandSouth Africa Tour Match
 Fiji1336Lost1957-08-10Athletic ParkWellingtonFiji Tour Match
 Fiji817Lost1957-08-24CarisbrookDunedinFiji Tour Match
 Australia1415Lost1958-06-14Brisbane Exhibition GroundBrisbaneTour Match
 Australia33Draw1958-06-28Sydney Cricket GroundSydneyTour Match
 Australia136Won1958-07-05Olympic Park StadiumMelbourneTour Match
 New Zealand268Lost1958-07-09Eden ParkAucklandFriendly
British Lions612Lost1959-09-05Eden ParkAucklandLions Tour Match
 Tonga1627Lost1960-05-21Teufaiva Sport StadiumNuku'alofaTour Match
 Samoa286Won1960-06-04Apia ParkApiaTour Match
 Samoa315Won1960-06-11Apia ParkApiaTour Match
 France53Won1961-07-29McLean ParkNapierFrance Tour Match
 Fiji269Won1964-07-25Buckhurst ParkSuvaTour Match
 South Africa39Lost1965-08-28Athletic ParkWellingtonSouth Africa Tour Match
British Lions1416Lost1966-08-13Eden ParkAucklandLions Tour Match
 Tonga1926Lost1969-08-16Lancaster ParkChristchurchTonga Tour Match
 Tonga619Lost1969-09-06Eden ParkAucklandTonga Tour Match
 Fiji116Won1970-07-25Lancaster ParkChristchurchFiji Tour Match
 Fiji99Draw1970-08-08Eden ParkAucklandFiji Tour Match
British Lions1223Lost1971-06-02Eden ParkAucklandLions Tour Match
 Samoa116Won1973-05-10Apia ParkApiaTour Match
 Samoa120Won1973-05-12Apia ParkApiaTour Match
 Tonga311Lost1973-05-22Teufaiva Sport StadiumNuku'alofaTour Match
 Fiji64Won1973-06-02Buckhurst ParkSuvaTour Match
 Fiji93Won1973-06-09Churchill ParkLautokaTour Match
 New Zealand818Lost1973-08-08Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaFriendly
 Fiji249Won1974-08-17Eden ParkAucklandFiji Tour Match
 Fiji3925Won1974-08-31Athletic ParkWellingtonFiji Tour Match
 Tonga2316Won1975-07-19Rugby ParkNew PlymouthTonga Tour Match
 Tonga377Won1975-08-02Eden ParkAucklandTonga Tour Match
 Samoa196Won1976-07-17Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaSamoa Tour Match
 Samoa248Won1976-07-24Eden ParkAucklandSamoa Tour Match
British Lions1922Lost1977-07-13Eden ParkAucklandLions Tour Match
 Fiji1913Won1979-05-19Buckhurst ParkSuvaTour Match
 Samoa263Won1979-05-22Apia ParkApiaTour Match
 Tonga269Won1979-05-25Teufaiva Sport StadiumNuku'alofaTour Match
 Fiji229Won1980-08-30Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaFiji Tour Match
 South Africa1212Draw1981-08-25McLean ParkNapierSouth Africa Tour Match
 Wales1925Lost1982-11-13National StadiumCardiffTour Match
 Spain663Won1982-11-20Campo Central de la Ciudad UniversitariaMadridTour Match
 Tonga284Won1983-06-06Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaTonga Tour Match
 Tonga524Won1983-06-13Eden ParkAucklandTonga Tour Match
 Spain2212Won1988-11-05Instalaciones Deportivas La CartujaSevilleTour Match
 Cook Islands2917Won1992-10-10National StadiumRaratongaTour Match
 Tonga3310Won1992-10-24Teufaiva Sport StadiumNuku'alofaTour Match
 Fiji3534Won1992-10-31National StadiumSuvaTour Match
British Lions2024Lost1993-05-29Athletic ParkWellingtonLions Tour Match
 Fiji3413Won1994-06-04Lancaster ParkChristchurchFiji Tour Match
 Samoa2815Won1996-06-14Ericsson StadiumAucklandSamoa Tour Match
 Fiji2510Won1996-11-01National StadiumSuvaTour Match
 Tonga2920Won1996-11-08Teufaiva Sport StadiumNuku'alofaTour Match
 Argentina3917Won1997-06-14McLean ParkNapierArgentina Tour Match
 Samoa3420Won1997-08-21Apia ParkApiaTour Match
 Tonga667Won1998-06-19Lowe Walker StadiumWhangareiTonga Tour Match
 England6214Won1998-06-23Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaEngland Tour Match
 Scotland248Won1998-11-14Murrayfield StadiumEdinburghTour Match
 Fiji5720Won1999-08-03National StadiumSuvaTour Match
 Scotland1815Won2000-06-17Yarrow StadiumNew PlymouthScotland Tour Match
 Australia2941Lost2001-06-09Sydney Football StadiumSydneyTour Match
 Argentina4324Won2001-06-26Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaArgentina Tour Match
 Australia2327Lost2002-06-15Subiaco OvalPerthTour Match
 Tonga4712Won2003-06-02North Harbour StadiumAlbanyTonga Tour Match
 England923Lost2003-06-09Yarrow StadiumNew PlymouthEngland Tour Match
 Canada6527Won2003-07-26KingslandCalgaryTour Match
 Canada309Won2003-08-02York StadiumTorontoTour Match
 United States6931Won2004-06-12Calgary Rugby ParkCalgaryChurchill Cup
 Fiji2927Won2005-06-03Albert ParkSuvaTour Match
British & Irish Lions1913Won2005-06-11Waikato StadiumHamiltonLions Tour Match
 United States746Won2006-06-08Buck Shaw StadiumSanta ClaraChurchill Cup
 Canada5923Won2007-05-26Franklin's GardensNorthamptonChurchill Cup
 Tonga209Won2008-06-07North Harbour StadiumAlbanyPacific Nations Cup
 Fiji117Won2008-06-14Churchill ParkLautokaPacific Nations Cup
 Samoa176Won2008-06-21Waikato StadiumHamiltonPacific Nations Cup
 Japan6522Won2008-06-28McLean ParkNapierPacific Nations Cup
 Ireland3128Won2010-06-18Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaCentenary Series Match
 England3528Won2010-06-23McLean ParkNapierCentenary Series Match
 Canada3219Won2012-11-23Oxford UniversityOxfordTour Match
 Canada4015Won2013-11-03BMO FieldTorontoTour Match
 United States2919Won2013-11-09PPL ParkPhiladelphiaTour Match
 Japan6121Won2014-11-01Noevir StadiumKobeTour Match
 Japan2018Won2014-11-08Chichibunomiya Rugby StadiumTokyoTour Match
 Fiji2726Won2015-07-11ANZ National StadiumSuvaFiji Tour Match
 United States547Won2016-11-04Toyota ParkChicagoMāori All Blacks tour to Northern Hemisphere
British & Irish Lions1032Lost2017-06-17Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaBritish & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand
 Canada519Won2017-11-03BC PlaceVancouverMāori All Blacks tour to Northern Hemisphere
 United States5922Won2018-11-03Soldier FieldChicagoMāori All Blacks tour to America and South America
 Brazil353Won2018-11-10Estádio do MorumbiSão PauloMāori All Blacks tour to America and South America
 Chile730Won2018-11-17Estadio San Carlos de ApoquindoLas CondesMāori All Blacks tour to America and South America
 Fiji1027Lost2019-07-13ANZ National StadiumSuvaMāori All Blacks and Fiji two-match series
 Fiji2617Won2019-07-20Rotorua International StadiumRotoruaMāori All Blacks and Fiji two-match series
 Samoa3510Won2021-06-26Sky StadiumWellingtonMāori All Blacks and Samoa two-match series
 Samoa3821Won2021-07-03Mount Smart StadiumAucklandMāori All Blacks and Samoa two-match series
 Ireland3217Won2022-06-29FMG Stadium WaikatoHamilton2022 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand
 Ireland2430Lost2022-07-12Sky StadiumWellington

Overall

Against Played Won Lost Drawn Win %
 Argentina2200100.00%
 Australia18610233.33%
 Brazil1100100.00%
 British & Irish Lions918011.11%
 Canada6600100.00%
 Chile1100100.00%
 Cook Islands1100100.00%
 England422050.00%
 Fiji31218267.74%
 France2200100.00%
 Ireland431075.00%
 Japan3300100.00%
 New Zealand505000.00%
 Samoa121200100.00%
 Scotland2200100.00%
 South Africa403100.00%
 Spain2200100.00%
 Tonga14104071.43%
 United States5500100.00%
 Wales202000.00%
Total1288043562.50%

Updated: 12 July 2022

Players

Current squad

On 15 June 2022, Clayton McMillan named a 28-man squad for a two-match series against Ireland.[5]

On 22 June, a further three players were added to the squad; Cullen Grace, Max Hicks and Sam Nock.[6]

Japan will host a Maori All Blacks Rugby in 2024

A Maori All Blacks rugby squad will visit Japan in 2024 for a two-match series as part of the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup. The Māori All Blacks and the Japan XV will square off in two games during the 2024 Lipovitan D Challenge Cup.

[7]

Note: Bold denotes players who are internationally capped, Caps correct as of 15 June 2022



PlayerPositionDate of birth (age)CapsFranchise/provinceIwi
Leni ApisaiHooker3 August 19961AucklandNgāti Awa
Kurt EklundHooker5 January 19923Blues / Bay of PlentyNgāti Kahu
Tyrone ThompsonHooker28 May 20000Chiefs / Hawke's BayNgāi Tāmanuhiri/Ngāti Rangiwewehi
Tamaiti WilliamsProp1 January 19993Crusaders / CanterburyNgāpuhi
Ollie NorrisProp11 December 19991Chiefs / WaikatoNgāpuhi
Marcel RenataProp24 February 199414Blues / AucklandNgāti Whanaunga/Ngāi Takoto
Jermaine AinsleyProp8 August 19950Highlanders / OtagoTe Rarawa/Te Arawa
Tyrel LomaxProp16 March 19964Hurricanes / TasmanMuaūpoko/Ngāi Tūhoe
Josh DicksonLock2 November 19941Highlanders / OtagoNgāi Tahu
Max HicksLock15 September 19990Highlanders / TasmanNgāti Ranginui/Ngāi Te Rangi
Manaaki Selby-RickitLock5 June 19963Highlanders / Bay of PlentyNgāti Raukawa/Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Isaia Walker-LeawereLock16 April 19978Hurricanes / Hawke's BayNgāti Porou
Caleb DelanyLoose forward4 February 20000Hurricanes / WellingtonNgāti Tūwharetoa
Cullen GraceLoose forward20 December 19990Crusaders / CanterburyNgāti Whakaue/Ngāti Raukawa
Billy HarmonLoose forward23 December 19946Highlanders / CanterburyNgāi Tahu
TK HowdenLoose forward28 January 20010Hurricanes / ManawatuNgāi Tūhoe
Reed PrinsepLoose forward18 April 19917Hurricanes / CanterburyTe Rarawa
Cameron SuafoaLoose forward23 April 19980Blues / AucklandNgāpuhi
Sam NockHalfback18 June 19963Blues / NorthlandNgāpuhi
TJ PerenaraHalfback23 January 19922Hurricanes / WellingtonNgāti Rangitihi
Brad WeberHalfback17 January 19919Chiefs / Hawke's BayNgāti Porou
Josh IoaneFirst five-eighth11 July 19955Chiefs / OtagoTe Rarawa
Ruben LoveFirst five-eighth28 April 20010Hurricanes / WellingtonTe Āti Awa
Alex NankivellCentre25 October 19964Chiefs / TasmanNgāti Pikiao
Rameka PoihipiCentre14 October 19981Chiefs / CanterburyNgāti Whakaue
Billy ProctorCentre14 May 19993Hurricanes / WellingtonNgāi Te Rangi/Ngāpuhi
Bailyn SullivanCentre3 September 19980Hurricanes / WaikatoNgāti Kahungunu
Connor Garden-BachopWing19 April 19992Highlanders / WellingtonNgāti Awa
Josh MoorbyWing11 July 19980Hurricanes / NorthlandNgāti Maniapoto
Shaun StevensonWing14 November 199610Chiefs / North HarbourNgāpuhi
Zarn SullivanFullback7 October 20001Blues / AucklandNgāti Kahungunu

Notable players

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Uncovering the Maori mystery Archived 12 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine on BBC, 5 June 2003
  2. "Rugby: Maori told to throw match against Boks". The New Zealand Herald. 13 April 2010. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  3. "Maori AllBlacks to tour United Kingdom | allblacks.com – official site of the All Blacks". allblacks.com. 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  4. "NZ Maori first class results 1910-May 2010". All Blacks. Allblacks.com. 23 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  5. "Māori All Blacks squad named for two-match Ireland series". allblacks.com (Press release). 13 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  6. "Māori All Blacks bolster squad ahead of first match against Ireland". allblacks.com (Press release). 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  7. Anderson, Kellie. "Japan vs Maori All Blacks". The two games are scheduled on Saturdays, June 29 and July 6, of this year. 08/01/2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
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