This year sees 100 years since an official New Zealand Māori side 1st took the field. The following from the NZRU: New Zealand Māori made a winning start to its rich and successful history when the first official New Zealand Māori side met and defeated a Rotorua sub-union team 100 years ago today.

That encounter, played in Rotorua and won 25-5 by New Zealand Māori, launched the team on a Century of rugby that would see them play 429 times for 297 wins and only 109 losses, with 23 drawn matches. Those results included 58 wins over international sides against 30 losses and five draws.

Try-scorers in that historic first match included H Harrison (Thames Valley), C Tipene (Otago), R Dansey (Otago) and Southland’s Billy Stead. The team was captained by Alex Takarangi.

Following the Rotorua match, the team toured New Zealand taking on Auckland and a South Auckland XV before heading to Australia for an 11-match tour and returning to further domestic fixtures. They finished that inaugural season having played 19, won 12, drawn three, and lost seven matches, scoring 315 points and conceding 160.

The development of an official national Maori team owes a great deal to the vision and commitment of Wiremu Teihioka (“Ned”) Parata. Recognising the presence of rugby league among Maori, Parata took his idea of a Maori team to the-then New Zealand Rugby Football Union which agreed and supported the concept. Another of Parata’s masterstrokes was to entice Billy Stead, the vice-captain of the 1905 “Originals” All Blacks side and pioneer of the first five-eighth position, out of retirement to make the tour. Parata subsequently managed Maori teams for the next 16 years.

The establishment of a New Zealand Māori side built on the legacy of the privately-organised New Zealand Natives team which toured in 1888-1889 and which featured predominantly Maori players.

New Zealand Māori Rugby Board Chairman Wayne Peters said the Centenary was a milestone of significant importance in sporting terms, recognised on the international stage by the  presence during the centennial year of teams of  international standing as well as being accepted as the opportunity to pay tribute to those who have supported Maori rugby at all levels

“Māori rugby holds a special place for Māori, and New Zealand rugby followers generally, as it represents a distinctive and unique aspect of rugby in New Zealand. So it is appropriate that we celebrate the past and, in particular, those players, coaches and management and supporters who have contributed to the game over 100 years,” he said.

Mr Peters said the Centenary would be celebrated during the Sealord New Zealand Māori Centenary Series next month. New Zealand Māori take on the New Zealand Barbarians in Whangarei, Ireland in Rotorua and England in Napier, while a series of luncheons being held in each venue would create an opportunity to honour the former players and those others who have contributed so much to the success of the team and Maori rugby.

About New Zealand Māori:

The first New Zealand Māori team was officially selected in 1910. The idea of a wholly Māori side was first mooted in the 1880s, resulting in the formation of the New Zealand Natives, whose famous 1888 tour was to have a tremendous impact on New Zealand rugby. Since their debut in 1910, the New Zealand Māori side has played almost every provincial side in New Zealand as well as numerous national sides and has toured extensively overseas. The team has a proud record, including victories in the professional era over England, Argentina, Scotland and Fiji, and an historic win over the 2005 British and Irish Lions.

For me, it’s all about the Haka:

Not bad. Hosea Gear is quite a machine!