Maori rugby league players set to tour Britain

Tu Tangata, Issue 14, 1 October 1983, Page 62

Maori rugby league players set to tour Britain

1983 is being looked on as a vintage year for New Zealand Maori rugby league after their representatives beat the touring English professionals, Hull, 16-4 and with a tour to Britain to start in October.

With the Kiwis in the side there are 11 past and present New Zealand representatives chosen the team will be a near full international side. Before the tour which begins with a match against Halifax at Thromhall on October 21, the Maori side will play a “test” against Papua New Guinea in Auckland on October 3. All the signs are there for another pre-tour win. In both 1975 and 1977, the Maoris walloped all opposition, including Papua New Guinea, to win the Pacific Cup on both occasions the trophy was played for. But if Papua New Guinea are now a full member of the International Rugby League Board, so too have the Maori side grown in strength and status. The tour to Britain will be a historic one. Not since the Pacific Cup tour in 1975 have the Maoris toured overseas. The last major tour undertaken was to Australia in 1956 when among the tourist were the Kiwis, A. Berryman (coach of the 1983 tour), J. Murray, J. Ratima and G. Turner. Among the missing eligible Kiwis were Bill Sorensen, Keith Roberts and John Yates. If they had been present on tour, it was the opinion of the tour manager, Ernie Asher that the team would

have lost only one of the 14 games instead of eight. Even higher hopes are held for the 1983 tourists. Their tour will be hosted by the British Amateur Rugby League Association because the English Rugby League could not fit in the tour as an international one in a tight schedule. Eight games against amateur sides will be played. Apart from the opening match, four days after they arrive in England, the games are: Sunday, October 23, v Batley at Heavy Woollen, Batley; Wednesday, October 26, v Humberside at Craven Park, Hull; Sunday, October 30, v Barrow at Barrow; Wednesday, November 2, v West Cumberland at Whitehaven; Saturday, November 5, v Oldham at Watershedding, at Oldham; Wednesday, November 9, v York at Wiggington, York; Saturday, November 12, Test v Barla at Boulevard, Hull. The team chosen will be captained by the Manukau captain, lan Bell, aged 28, a second row forward who can hook and has the turn of speed to play in the backs. His vice-captain will be fellow 1983 Kiwi Ron O’Regan from the CityNewton club, Auckland. Aged 26 he has

already had two most successful seasons with Barrow.

Other team members are Nick Wright, aged 27, fullback, 1983 Kiwi, Auckland; Tom Waitai, 25, fullback, Te Atatu Club, Auckland; Dick Uluave, 27, wing, Kiwi, Manawatu; Lou Kupa, 24, wing, Wellington and Central Districts; Dean Bell, 21, wing-centre, 1983 Kiwi, Auckland; Joe Ropati, 19, centre, 1983 Kiwi, Auckland; Cedric Lovett, 22, centre, Mt Albert, Auckland; Clayton Friend, 21, halfback, 1982 Kiwi, Auckland; Nolan Tupaea, 28, standoff, 1980 Kiwi, Wellington; Chas Paki, 24, halfback, Waikato; Pat Poasa, 25, prop, New Zealand Maoris, Northland; Anthony Murray, 24, prop, New Zealand Maoris, Northland; Ricky Cowan, 19, prop, 1982 Junior Kiwi, Auckland; Owen Wright, 26, second row, 1982 Kiwi, Auckland; Kevin Schaumkell, second row, New Zealand Maoris, Auckland; Hugh McGahan, loose forward, 1982 Kiwi, Auckland; Russell Tuuta, 22, loose forward. Junior Kiwi, Canterbury; Howie Tamati, 27, hooker, 1983 Kiwi, New Plymouth; Mark Roiall, 21, hooker, Glenora Club, Auckland.

The tour manager is Tom (Lummy) Newton with Andy Berryman as coach and Morrie Anderson as business manager.

However, the tour will not be just one for the players. A supporters group with full cultural teams have been included and further supporters have been invited to join the tour.

A all-inclusive tour has been arranged for just on S3OOO with a $l5O contribution for a food kitty in the United Kingdom.

All accommodation has been arranged. Marae type living in Britain and hotel accommodation during visits to Los Angeles on the way and to Disneyland on the return trip.

Other optional sightseeing tours in the United States and Britain are available.

Bookings for the supporters’ tour have one further advantage, the cost is stable and not subject to increase according to Mr Newton. “Our airlines, Continental Airlines and British Caledonian have given us the assurance of a set cost,” he said.

Information of the tour can be supplemented by an inquiry to the secretary of the Wellington Rugby League, Morrie Anderson or the secretary-man-ager of the Auckland Rugby League, Des Jenkinson.

The tour to Britain by the Maori team has been the culmination of a decade of planning and fulfils a dream of administrators which began over a hundred years ago when football wbs first played in this country.

Maori football has a high standard and great status in the world and the league tour with the calibre of players selected can only enhance that enviable reputation.