1989 New Zealand rugby league tour
| 1989 Kiwis tour | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 1 October 1989 – 3 December 1989 | ||||
| Manager | Ian Jenkins Tom McKeown | ||||
| Coach | Tony Gordon | ||||
| Tour captain | Hugh McGahan | ||||
| Top point scorer | Phil Bancroft (100) | ||||
| Top try scorer | Dave Watson (17) | ||||
| Summary |
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| Total |
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| Test match |
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| Opponent |
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| Great Britain |
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| France |
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| Tour chronology | |||||
The 1989 New Zealand rugby league tour was a series of matches played between October and December by the New Zealand national rugby league team in England and France. The team lost a series 1–2 against Great Britain but defeated France 2–0.
Background
New Zealand last toured Great Britain in 1985.
Earlier in 1989, New Zealand lost all three Tests at home to Australia on the 1989 Kangaroo tour.
Touring party
A 26-man touring squad was selected in September 1989, with Hugh McGahan named as captain, and Gary Freeman as vice-captain.[1] Tony Gordon was the coach, while Ian Jenkins and Tom McKeown were appointed as tour managers.[2]
Dean Bell (Wigan) and Kurt Sorensen (Widnes) were not included in the touring squad, but could still be selected for the Tests against Great Britain and France.[1]
James Goulding and Tea Ropati were injured during the tour, and were replaced by George Mann and David Ewe.[3] Ewe was later sent home early from the tour due to misconduct.[4]
Schedule and results
| Date | Opponents | Score (NZ first) | Venue | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October | St Helens | 26–27 | St Helens | 6,940 | |
| 3 October | Castleford | 22–20 | Castleford | 5,963 | |
| 8 October | Wigan | 14–24 | Wigan | 15,083 | |
| 11 October | Bradford Northern | 26–8 | Bradford | 3,598 | |
| 15 October | Leeds | 34–4 | Leeds | 9,218 | |
| 17 October | Cumbria | 28–2 | Whitehaven | 3,983 | |
| 21 October | Great Britain | 24–16 | Manchester | 18,273 | |
| 28 October | Great Britain | 6–26 | Leeds | 13,000 | |
| 1 November | Hull | 44–8 | Hull | 5,898 | |
| 5 November | Widnes | 26–18 | Widnes | 9,905 | |
| 7 November | Featherstone Rovers | 44–20 | Featherstone | 2,830 | |
| 11 November | Great Britain | 6–10 | Wigan | 20,346 | This match counted towards the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup |
| 15 November | Midi-Pyrenees XIII | 36–12 | Toulouse | 1,000 | |
| 19 November | France | 16–14 | Carcassonne | 3,500 | |
| 22 November | Selection de L'Aude | 70–0 | Carcassonne | 500 | |
| 25 November | France B | 62–4 | Albi | 1,500 | |
| 3 December | France | 34–0 | Carcassonne | 4,208 | This match counted towards the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup |
Aftermath
The tourists were the first New Zealand team to lose a series in Great Britain since 1965.[5]
Following the conclusion of the tour, many players in the squad signed contracts with English clubs.[6]
Notes
- ^ a b "Kiwi trifecta struck by Halswell club". The Press. Christchurch. 4 September 1989. p. 40.
- ^ "Kiwi manager found". The Press. Christchurch. 4 May 1989. p. 36.
- ^ "Nikau dismissal rouses tourists". The Guardian. London. 2 November 1989. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ewe keen to 'prove himself over again'". The Press. Christchurch. 21 November 1989. p. 36.
- ^ Fletcher & Howes (1990), p. 274.
- ^ Fletcher & Howes (1990), p. 275.
References
- "Kiwis Tour 1989". Rugby League Project.
- Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1990). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91. London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 978-0-356-17851-6.