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Maori All Blacks to face international-laden Pasifika side in Hamilton

The Maori All Blacks.

The Maori All Blacks v Moana Pasifika match presented by Sky will bring culture, connection and entertainment to Hamilton’s FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on Saturday, 5 December, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) announced today.

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The match brings together the Maori All Blacks for the only time in 2020 and will mark their first match in Hamilton since playing Samoa during the 2008 Pacific Nations Cup. It will also be the first time a team has played under the Moana Pasifika banner.

New Zealand Rugby General Manager Professional Rugby & Performance Chris Lendrum said the match was fitting recognition of the contribution the Maori and Pasifika communities had made to rugby in 2020, and a fantastic way to bring the curtain down on a unique year of rugby in New Zealand.

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James Parsons and Bryn Hall share their picks for the Healthspan Elite Performance of the week from the fourth Bledisloe Cup test between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Brisbane.

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James Parsons and Bryn Hall share their picks for the Healthspan Elite Performance of the week from the fourth Bledisloe Cup test between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Brisbane.

“Rugby has faced unprecedented challenges this year and everyone involved in the game has faced them together, so to bring our Maori All Blacks and Moana Pasifika players together is a great way to celebrate and recognise the value of those communities to the game.

“It’s an important match for both teams, as a home match for the Maori All Blacks celebrating a team with a long and proud history in Aotearoa, and for the Moana Pasifika group as we take another step on a journey toward our shared desire to stand up a Pasifika team in a future professional club competition.”

The Maori All Blacks will be coached by Clayton McMillan (Ng?i Te Rangi) who has guided the team to four wins from five matches since being appointed in late 2017, and has been appointed as the interim Chiefs Head Coach for 2021. The Maori All Blacks squad will be named on Monday, 23 November.

New Zealand Maori Rugby Board Chair Dr Farah Palmer said the match was a chance for communities to come together and connect at the end of a year that had disrupted the lives of all New Zealanders.

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“Many of our wh?nau and rangatahi have struggled during 2020 as we’ve dealt with COVID and I know our Maori All Blacks players will appreciate the chance to represent their iwi, hap? and their wh?nau, and to provide some positivity for their community.

“This game also highlights the importance of health and wellbeing, and will be an opportunity to celebrate wh?nau resilience, and also our shared whakapapa with the Pasifika community in that we all came to Aotearoa, New Zealand for the wellbeing of our wh?nau and aiga.

“Moana Pasifika will be a tough opponent and, like the Maori All Blacks, will bring a rich cultural element to what is shaping up to be a unique and special occasion in Hamilton – the heart of Waikato-Tainui and the Kingitanga.”

The match represents the Maori All Blacks only match in 2020 and first since they beat Fiji 26-17 in Rotorua last year.

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Moana Pasifika will be coached by experienced professional rugby coach Faalogo Tana Umaga, who was the first captain of the All Blacks of Pasifika heritage and an Officer of the New Zealand order of Merit for services to rugby. A current member of the Blues coaching staff, Umaga has also guided the Counties Manukau Steeelers and RC Toulon in France.

The Moana Pasifika group has secured players of Pasifika heritage, made up of current and former international players, and a number of players eligible for international Pasifika teams. The squad will be announced later this month.

 

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Moana Pasifika Patron Tuafa’asisina Sir Bryan Williams said the match would hold great significance to the Pasifika community.

“This match is a great opportunity to showcase the exciting Pasifika talent that runs throughout New Zealand rugby’s community and it will be a huge honour for these players to play against a team with the mana, heritage and quality of the Maori All Blacks.

“It’s also another big step toward our desire to have a Pasifika professional team in Super Rugby and to provide an aspirational pathway for players to progress through to the national teams of Samoa, Tonga and Fiji.”

– New Zealand Rugby

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J
JW 46 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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