Māori Rugby History Celebrated

NEWS RELEASE
19 March 2009

Māori Rugby History Celebrated

The first comprehensive history of the Māori Men’s Rugby Team will be launched at Eden Park on Monday, 30 March and is a celebration of nearly one hundred years of Māori rugby.

Beneath the Māori Moon: An Illustrated History of Māori Rugby by Malcolm Mulholland (Ngāti Kahungunu) and published by Huia Publishers, chronicles the development of the team from the time when rugby was first introduced to New Zealand, right up to present day. The book has a host of interviews with former players, some of whom have since passed away, that provides an insight into some of the controversies the team has been involved with, including All Black tours of South Africa.

Beneath the Māori Moon is divided into decades, with a focus on players who wore the New Zealand jersey and are regarded as ‘legends’ of the game. The final chapter in the book, ‘The Best Māori XV’ is the focal point of the live launch. Past players will be assembling in London and Auckland to be presented with a special taonga that has been gifted by Ngāi Tahu. Māori Television will be broadcasting the event live from 8pm to 9pm as the first show of their new Native Affairs season. The evening will celebrate Māori rugby as well as pull together a who’s who of Māori rugby.

Ironically the book is being launched following a controversial decision by the New Zealand Rugby Union to ‘suspend’ the New Zealand Māori Men’s Rugby Team.

ENDS

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