Russell Tuuta in N.Z. Maoris team

Press, 4 July 1983, Page 36

Russell Tuuta in N.Z. Maoris team

By

JOHN COFFEY

Russell Tuuta, the Kaiapoi second-row forward, has been included in the New Zealand Maoris rugby league team to tour Britain later this year. He is in good company. There are six present Kiwis and five former internationals in the 22-man squad.

It has been a notable season for Tuuta, a former national junior representative. In the last few months he has made his debut for Canterbury and South Island, and he also played for New Zealand Maoris against Auckland. The rangy Tuuta is the only South Island member of the touring party, and he should benefit considerably from the eight-match itinerary.

Although the Maoris were not able to call upon players who are under contract to overseas clubs, they still have a formidable side.

Nick Wright, Joe Ropati, Dean Bell, Ron O’Regan, Howie Tamati and lan Bell are all members of the New Zealand squad which assembles in Brisbane today to

prepare for the return test with Australia next Saturday evening. In addition, Dick Uluave, Nolan Tupaea, Clayton Friend, Owen Wright and Hugh McGahan all have past international experience.

The Kaiapoi club can derive much satisfaction from the composition of the touring team. It not only provides the sole southern representative, but one of its “old boys,” Charlie Paki (now in Waikato), is Friend’s understudy at scrum-half.

The team (from Auckland unless otherwise stated) is.— Backs: Nick Wright, Tom Waitai, Dick Uluave (Manawatu), Joe Ropati, Cedric Lovett, Dean Bell, Lou Kupa (Wellington), Ron O’Regan, Nolan Tupaea (Wellington), Clayton Friend, Charlie Paki (Waikato).

Forwards: Pat Poasa (Northland), Howie Tamati (Taranaki), Mark Roiall, Anthony Murray (Northland), Ricky Cowan, lan Bell, Kevin Schaumkell, Owen Wright, Hugh McGahan, Russell Tuuta (Canterbury). lan Bell will captain the team, with O’Regan vice-cap-tain.