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Māori All Blacks
About the team
The Maori All Blacks is a historic team representing the proud culture of New Zealand. In 1888 New Zealand Natives was one of the country’s maiden national rugby sides, playing Hawke's Bay in their first ever match on June 23, with the Natives winning 5-0. Later that year they would play their initial international side, recording their first national win 13-4 when beating Ireland in Dublin.
The Māori All Blacks is a historic team representing the proud culture of New Zealand. In 1888 New Zealand Natives was one of the country’s maiden national rugby sides, playing Hawke's Bay in their first ever match on June 23, with the Natives winning 5-0. Later that year they would play their initial international side, recording their first national win 13-4 when beating Ireland in Dublin.
The first to wear the famous black jersey, the side was originally conceived as an all-Maori selection and ultimately included just five non-Māori players in its ranks.
Conquerors of many internationals sides, including the British and Irish Lions, England, Ireland, while the last time they lost to a Pacific Island side was in 1973 (Tonga).
Originally team selected was ‘loosely’ governed in terms of heritage, but now all players must have Māori whakapapa or genealogy confirmed in order to represent the side.
The side toured South America for the first time in 2018 which saw them take on Brazil and Chile.