World rugby action awaits North MPs

Northland MP and NZ First leader Winston Peters will be the parliamentary rugby team's media manager at the Parliamentary Rugby World Cup in England in September.

Northland MPs Kelvin Davis and Winston Peters are part of the parliamentary contingent that will travel to England to take on their counterparts from other countries in the Parliamentary Rugby World Cup in September.

Air New Zealand is providing discounted flights for the MPs, who have been granted special leave to take part in the competition.

The tournament from September 10 to 23 overlaps with the start of the Rugby World Cup.

Politicians going include Corrections Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga - who is currently under pressure over allegations of violence in jails.

Mr Lotu-Iiga will have to put parliamentary rivalry aside for the games as one of his teammates, Te Tai Tokerau MP Mr Davis, has been attacking him in Parliament this week over violence at Mt Eden Prison.

Northland MP and NZ First leader Mr Peters, who turned 70 this year, will be the team's media manager. Another team member, Labour MP for Tamaki Makaurau Peeni Henare, is also from Northland.

New Zealand are four-time champions in the parliamentary tournament, which happens before each Rugby World Cup.

Players will also be dipping into their own pockets. Asked how the trip was being funded, Labour MP Damien O'Connor said: "My bank account."

Mr Lotu-Iiga has responded angrily this week to questioning from Mr Davis over allegations about what the minister knew regarding "fight clubs" in Serco-run Mt Eden Prison.

Mr Davis said of the UK mission: "I might find myself getting a kick in the head from my side of the ruck.

Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis will be playing in the team.

"But once we're out of the House, we put things aside and get on the rugby field and do what we do there."

Mr Peters said he would handle the team's public relations as media manager but he would not be playing.

"I hope they are not going to be that desperate," he said.

Some team members were considering attending the Rugby World Cup, but he was not yet sure if he would catch any games.

Others were tacking on political business.

This year the team is made up of a core of parliamentary staff and family, with nine MPs.

Other players will include Labour MP Stuart Nash and National's Paul Goldsmith, Mark Mitchell and Alfred Ngaro.