Ireland will play the Maori All Blacks in two mid-week matches during their three-Test tour of New Zealand next month.
The Triple Crown champions will meet the representative team in Hamilton on June 29, three days before they kick off their regular All Blacks series at Eden Park.
The second Maori All Blacks clash will be in Wellington on July 12.
“The Maori All Blacks will provide a stern test of our squad strength and depth,” Ireland coach Andy Farrell said in a statement on Tuesday.
“They are effectively a Test match side that have a proud tradition and impressive record of results.”
Ireland have played the Maori All Blacks twice in over 130 years, losing both matches.
They were beaten 13-4 by the team formerly known as the New Zealand Natives at Lansdowne Road in Dublin in 1888.
Their last meeting was in 2010 at Rotorua International Stadium where the Maori All Blacks won a 31-28 thriller.
“Our rivalry goes back more than 100 years and that will only add to the occasion,” Maori All Blacks coach Clayton McMillan said.
“To play the world’s fourth-ranked team in a two-match series is an exciting prospect and we expect both games to be huge challenges.”
Ireland meet the regular All Blacks in Auckland (July 2), Dunedin (July 9) and Wellington (July 16).
HenryHoneyBalls
Roar Rookie
Ireland consistently have a similar number of foreign born players in their squad as NZ does. The difference in NZ is they poach players at a younger age because PI players until this year had no professional rugby structures in their home nations so if they wait to poach them when they are older it is too late. Offering talented kids many of whom have represented their countries at underage level rugby scholarships is no different to offering established pros club contracts. I actually think Kiwis would be more outraged if NH countries started targeting talented underage Kiwis rugby scholarships. The narrative from NZ on this subject is desperately one-sided. The Ireland team core is almost always made up of very talented homegrown players and yet the narrative and focus can often be on the few foreign born guys as the point of difference. The only undroppable foreign born player at the moment is probably Gibson Park. As good as Lowe is we have great depth at wing, with Larmor, Conway, Stockdale, Hanson, Earls, OBrien, Balacoune all fighting it out for the wing positions.
Intotouch
Guest
Lowe and Gibson Park I get. But Carbery moved to Ireland when he was 10 and his mother is Irish. There’s no Australian that I know of on the Irish team.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
i used to do drugs, ………………………i still do, but i used to too
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I dont drink anymore....... I dont drink any less either LOL.
WEST
Roar Guru
Excellent :thumbup: :rugby:
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Totally agree, This is very good news.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
That’s an interesting question for sure BF, definitely gave me a chuckle :laughing:. It’s not something I had thought of :happy:
Harry Jones
Expert
What a good tour!
Bluesfan
Reality is that International rugby now for some teams is a Baba's selection - look at Ireland in their last 6 Nations match - 3 Kiwi's and Oz in the backline, more foreign born than Irish born in outside backs!
Highlander
Roar Guru
So good
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
i only drink to make other people more interesting (oh - and to get a personality apparently)
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I think thats the sole reason alcohol is cheaper in NZ than Aus...The cold. :laughing: :laughing:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Starting to sound like the NRL there BF where the pre season Indiginous game features many who play for whichever side selects them. Many seem to be both Maori and Aboriginal.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
just make sure the chully buns chokkas eh & drink heaps of puss so you don't feel a thing
RayinSydney
Roar Rookie
Its always Jandals weather..
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Guest
[…] Eire lock in further fixtures on their New Zealand tour […]
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
Bluey Both MAB games precede a test match so I doubt, if Ireland would release these guys, to play for the MAB's. Just like I doubt, if Fozzie & Co would release any AB selections, run out for the MAB's.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
Dunedin in Un Zud winter - don't forget to pack your uggies, not exactly jandals weather then bro))
RayinSydney
Roar Rookie
They'll be cracking games those, I'm going across the ditch to the Dunedin test, can not wait.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Awesome. So happy this is happening.