SA give thumbs-up to Maori-Boks

BY MARC HINTON

Last updated 12:02 27/03/2009

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It's on. The proposed match between New Zealand Maori and the Springboks has been given a surprise green light by the South African Rugby Union.

The match, mooted as part of the Springboks' preparations for the upcoming series against the British & Irish Lions, had looked to be ill-fated when a South African President's Council ruling forbidding contests between national teams and sides selected along racial lines had appeared to stymie the event.

But discussions have continued between the South African and New Zealand unions and an announcement today indicates the match now looks likely to go ahead.

SARU's President's Council announced it had "instructed staff to proceed with an attempt to host a match between a South African XV and the New Zealand Maori before the start of the Lions series".

In other words, the highly anticiapted showdown -- a match Boks coach Peter de Villiers regards as crucial in his side's preparations for the three-test Lions series -- is back on again.

All that remains to be undertaken now is some finer details worked out around the funding of the match. That should not stand in its way now.

The instruction came after SARU's council accepted a recommendation from the management committee that the union should "accept matches against any teams sanctioned by the national governing body of that team".

That recommendation is a sensible way round the red tape that threatened to torpedo the match between two sides that have been on rugby's international landscape for a long, long time.

SARU's acting managing director Andy Marinos has been mandated to examine ways to fund the costs of hosting the Maori in South Africa.

A possible date and venue has yet to be identified for the planned match, but now the green light has been given expect the rest of the detail to follow pretty quickly.

This is a match both South Africa and New Zealand want to make happen.

For New Zealand, it helps solve the embarrassing situation where the Maori were left of the 2009 calendar because of financial constraints.

And for the Boks it's an ideal shakedown for the Lions.

"It's great news from South Africa," NZRU general manager of professional rugby Neil Sorenson said.

"As we have said for some time, we have been working really hard with the South Africans to make this match a reality and while it's not yet a done deal, the fact that their president's council has given it the green light is a real positive.

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"We need to now work with the South African management on logistical and operational issues to see if the match will definitely go ahead."

The Maori, comprising players of indigenous heritage, have been New Zealand's international second-string team in recent seasons.

In terms of competition, the Maori have often been of a higher standard than many other countries' full test teams.

The Maori beat the British and Irish Lions in 2005, beat Canada 59-23 in 2007, and last year beat Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Australia A to win the Pacific Nations Cup.

Maori players were once prevented by South Africa's apartheid laws from joining All Blacks tours to the republic.

They last toured South Africa in 1994 without meeting the Springboks.

- with NZPA

- © Fairfax NZ News

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31 comments

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Karlos #31 02:30 pm Mar 27 2009

Ziggy #15 and Ted # 20 - your responses say it all. It's not racist. It would be racist if we excluded players from the All Blacks based on their race, as the AB's represent the entire nation. But the NZ Maori team represents the Maori people of NZ, just like an under 19 team would represent all the under 19 players etc etc. Should be an awesome match if it happens!!

Doug J #30 02:03 pm Mar 27 2009

i wish people would get their facts straight!! The team is not picked purely on it's racial basis! i agree with Ted #20 comments. The Maori rugby team has been part of New Zealands rugby culture since rugby was introduced to New Zealand. And of course, the first NZ Rugby tour to go beyond Australia was the New Zealand natives team to the UK in 1888/89!!!

To be Maori makes you distinctly different from anyone else. It is who you are, and representing where you come from.

This issue comes up every time their is an article about Maori rugby. Its frustrating to me, who is a rugby playing Maori. The Maori rugby team is a source of pride for all Maori, and the fact that they excell on the world stage is great for both Maori and New Zealand, and carries on the traditions set by the native team in 1888/89.

It dissapoints me that modern NZ still complain about the selection of a "race based" Maori rugby team. We should be celebrating our unique culture, not dragging it down like some of you that have commented today!!!!!!

McCav #29 01:58 pm Mar 27 2009

"Motiv #19 12:32pm Currently people who live in New Zealand who aren't Maori can play for other teams on the basis of race. For instance Scot, Welsh or Irish heritage can garner you a place in their teams even if you have never lived there, so long as you fit the rules around representation for any other country.

So, there are similar criteria which favours whiter fullas.""

Actually Motiv- I think you'll find the difference there is anyone of any race can go and play for another country (whether ot be Tonga, Wales, or China etc) just by qualifying thru either the ancestors (as you say) or by residency. As other posters have stated a lot of NZ maori players are mixed blood- so they could possibly qualify on ancestral basis for England etc too. Or they can wait 3 years and play for them (like Riki Flutey), Dosn't seem to me like its a "white fullas" only thing. Non Maori can never qualify after 3 years for the maori team. Pretty redundant point you make there.

mike #28 01:44 pm Mar 27 2009

i'm sorry but some of you need to open your eyes sure its not racist if you go by racism in the dictionary but you tell me what you would say if i started a team that only NZ born full Europeans decendants were allowed in? you would simply firer up and say that i'm racist... the maori team should be abolised it's a joke!

Jay #27 01:43 pm Mar 27 2009

#22 "When the Boks were selected on race, THAT was racist, the Maori team is selected to represent Maori people and culture!" Good show on contradicting yourself on that statement "Sheesh".

ziggy #26 01:43 pm Mar 27 2009

Dave #16 says "nz should never have a maori team".

NZ does not have a maori team. Maori have a maori team. They do not represent all of NZ. Therefore - no problem Dave.

frank #25 01:37 pm Mar 27 2009

Saying that racially seleced teams is racism is just pc rubbish. Clearly it is not racism unless people the team represent are not permitted to play. Those who cry "racism" about the NZ Maori team are not thinking through the issue and are just spinning a populist line that reflects ignorance. Get over it and enjoy the game!

Logan #24 01:29 pm Mar 27 2009

In response to archie #13

"It's constitutional duty is toward ALL its 120-140 professional players and ensuring an equal playing field for All Black consideration and selection"

That's what the Super 14 is for!

" A 'New Zealand XV' eligible to ALL is the ONLY fair, non-discriminatory way to go!"

Have you not heard of the Junior All Blacks? They're playing 5 matches this year, not just 1!

Clearly you know nothing about NZ rugby

Anton #23 01:12 pm Mar 27 2009

Ridiculous, Thinking that a few years back NZ was at the forefront of protesting racially selected teams and now they are promoting it. Sounds like double standards to me.

Sheesh #22 12:56 pm Mar 27 2009

The NZ Maori is not representative of NZ as a country like the All Blacks or Springboks are. When the Boks were selected on race, THAT was racist, the Maori team is selected to represent Maori people and culture!

A NZ European team would be completely redundant because NZ Europeans are decendant from so many different European countries that there would be no link between the players except for maybe their great great great great grandads continental birthplace.

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