Lack of team time puts Māori rugby off step

Supplied

Peter Verschaffelt Peeni Henare | Lack of team time puts Māori rugby off step

Download Audio

Labour’s sport and recreation spokesperson says Māori rugby needs more support.

For the first time a Japanese XV beat the Māori All Blacks at the weekend, the 14 to 26 loss a stunning reversal of the 36-10 trouncing the team dished out to the Eddie Jones-coached side at their first match up last month.

Peeni Henare says it’s been a long time since Maori team have gone on the regular international tours which build up the fellowship needed to go unbeaten for a long period.

“The kind of support a Maori representative rugby team needs has been ignored for some time and I think it might be time to get back there. I was encouraged to see Waikato Tainui and tribal leaders over there for another kaupapa who went along to support the boys. Maybe that putea and that support might come from there,” he says.

Mr Henare says Japanese rugby has been growing in strength since the team shocked South Africa in the 2015 World Cup.

RELATED NEWS

Hawaiians collect Cook taonga Ratification call for Hawkes Bay settlement Rangatahi homelessness focus in housing plan