Rugby: Home unions in line to mark centenary

New Zealand Maori last played in 2008. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand Maori are putting together an impressive programme, pencilling in games against England, Ireland and Wales to celebrate their centenary this year.

Last week, the Herald on Sunday reported a game against England was close to being confirmed and this is expected to be added to internationals against Wales and Ireland in June.

The venues in line are understood to be Napier, Whangarei and Rotorua.

Wales are touring New Zealand this winter when they will play tests against the All Blacks in Dunedin (June 19) and Hamilton (June 26).

Although the NZRU wouldn't confirm the match, saying the Maori programme hadn't been signed off, the BBC have listed a match between Wales and the Maori on June 12.

This would put them in direct competition with the All Blacks' test against Ireland in New Plymouth the same day. A midweek match is also an option.

Ireland play one test against the All Blacks but the Six Nations champions are also reportedly looking for a match on the weekend of June 19 before they tackle Australia in Brisbane on June 26.

A game against the New Zealand Maori is a strong possibility and that could be in Rotorua, given Ireland's preference to play matches in venues they will be based in during the World Cup.

They are due to play the United States in New Plymouth and a European qualifier in Rotorua.

England tour Australia in June, with tests in Perth (June 12) and Sydney (June 19). The ARU are also in the throes of confirming midweek games against selection teams before both tests.

Reports out of England suggest they will also travel to New Zealand after the second test to play New Zealand Maori.

The New Zealand Maori last played in 2008, when they beat Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Australia A to claim the Pacific Nations Cup. They were replaced in the competition last year by the Junior All Blacks.

But 2010 represents a significant milestone in New Zealand Maori rugby, given the first New Zealand Maori team was officially selected in 1910.

A New Zealand Natives side toured the UK in 1888, the first time a New Zealand team toured there. It was originally conceived as an all-Maori selection but five non-Maori were picked for the squad.

It was a mammoth tour, with 108 games in total in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. In the UK, they played as many as four games a week and totalled 74 games in all for a record of 49 wins, five draws and 20 losses.

They beat Ireland 13-4 but went down to both Wales (5-0) and England (7-0). It was during that tour the haka was reportedly introduced to rugby, in their match against Surrey.

The 1926-27 side is arguably the most celebrated Maori side and forged a good record on a seven-month tour of Australia, Ceylon, France, Wales and Canada.

They won 29 of their 38 matches, despite the controversial absence of fullback George Nepia, who was left at home because he missed the boat from Wellington.

Between 1994 and 2001, the side recorded 24 consecutive wins, including victories over Scotland in Edinburgh, England and Argentina.

They also beat the touring British and Irish Lions for the first time in 2005.