Talks for an Indigenous-NZ Maori match

Plans are being made to arrange an exhibition game between the New Zealand Maori Rugby League team and an Indigenous Australian team.

The match could be held during next year’s World Cup.

“There have been preliminary discussions between a number of parties around the possibility of a game featuring a New Zealand Māori team and an Indigenous Australian team to be staged during the Rugby League World Cup 2017 tournament period with further talks to take place,” Michael Brown, Rugby league World Cup 2017 CEO, said.

New Zealand Māori Rugby League Chairman John Devonshire says talks have been positive so far.

“Everyone within the NZRL whānau are excited about it and we actually tested the waters in Newcastle at the Kiwis (Kiwis vs Australia Test) game and there was a very favourable action and very positive.”