1993 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France
The 1993 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France was a tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team. The New Zealand Kiwis lost a series 0-3 against Great Britain but defeated Wales and France in one-off test matches. They also won games against Wigan, St Helens, Widnes, Leeds and the Great Britain under 23's.
Background
New Zealand last toured Great Britain in 1989.
Earlier in 1993, New Zealand had drawn 14-all with the Kangaroos at Mt Smart Stadium. This was the first ever draw between the two countries. They then lost 8-16 at the Palmerston North Showgrounds before finishing the test series by going down 4-16 in Brisbane. The New Zealand squad for those mathces was: Morvin Edwards, Sean Hoppe, Jarrod McCracken, Dave Watson, Daryl Halligan, Tea Ropati, Gary Freeman (C), Se'e Solomona, Duane Mann, Brent Todd, Gary Mercer, Quentin Pongia, Tawera Nikau, Tony Kemp, Brendon Tuuta, Jason Donnelly, Stephen Kearney, Gavin Hill and John Lomax while Howie Tamati was the coach and Richard Bolton was the manager.[1] All of this squad, with the exception of Gavin Hill and Tony Kemp, were also selected for the tour of Great Britain and France. However, before the tour, they lost McCracken (surgery) and Brent Todd (injury). The Kiwis would also be without goal kicking fullback Matthew Ridge (knee).[2]
The Frank Endacott-coached Junior Kiwis toured Great Britain at the same time as the senior Kiwis, winning 11 of there 12 matches. Their captain, Henry Paul, was called up from the Junior Kiwis to join the main squad mid-tour.
Squad
This was the first time that no Auckland-based players were in the squad.[3]
| Name | Games | Tests | Tries | Goals | FGs | Points | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Edwards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Jason Williams | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| Whetu Taewa | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| Blair Harding | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Mark Nixon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Iva Ropati | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| Gene Ngamu | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Aaron Whittaker | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Brent Stuart | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Jason Lowrie | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Paul Johnson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Denvour Johnston | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Robert Piva | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Jason Mackie | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| Logan Edwards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| David Lomax | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Simon Angell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Morvin Edwards | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Sean Hoppe | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| Jarrod McCracken | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Dave Watson | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| Daryl Halligan | 3 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 28 | ||
| Tea Ropati | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Gary Freeman (c) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| Se'e Solomona | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Henry Paul | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Duane Mann | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Brent Todd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Gary Mercer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Quentin Pongia | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Tawera Nikau | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Brendon Tuuta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Jason Donnelly | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Stephen Kearney | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kevin Iro | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| Frano Botica | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | ||
| Tony Kemp | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| John Lomax | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Richie Blackmore | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Howie Tamati was the coach and Richard Bolton was the manager.[1]
Fixtures
The New Zealand side played a total of five test matches while on their European tour and one test in New Zealand before leaving.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Attendance | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 October | Wales | Vetch Field, Swansea | Won | 24-19 | 6,073 | [4] |
| 16 October | Great Britain | Wembley Stadium, London | Lost | 0-17 | 36,131 | [5] |
| 30 October | Great Britain | Central Park, Wigan | Lost | 12-29 | 16,502 | [6] |
| 6 November | Great Britain | Headingley Stadium, Leeds | Lost | 10-29 | 15,139 | [7] |
| 21 November | France | Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne | Won | 36-11 | 3,500 | [8] |
After New Zealand lost the second test, and the series, coach Howie Tamati selected Aaron Whittaker at halfback over the incumbent captain, Gary Freeman. After the match Tamati stated "I didn't believe I could win with Gary, it didn't come off but I believe the decision I made gave us a chance, whereas before we had no chance."[9]
Aftermath
Frank Endacott was appointed the new New Zealand coach from 1994. The Kiwis were next in Great Britain for the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.
References
- 1 2 Rattue, Chris (4 May 2011). "Anzac clash shapes up to be close battle". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ↑ "Rugby League: Kiwis have great depth". M.nzherald.co.nz. 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
- ↑ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, kearne1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.303.
- ↑ "Wales vs New Zealand 1993". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
- ↑ Great Britain vs New Zealand 1993 Series rugbyleagueproject.org
- ↑ "Great Britain vs New Zealand 1993 Series - Game 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
- ↑ "Great Britain vs New Zealand 1993 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
- ↑ "France vs New Zealand 1993". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 2015-11-06.
- ↑ "Rugby League: Kiwis tours build up special magic". M.nzherald.co.nz. 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2015-11-06.