2015 New Zealand rugby league tour of England

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The 2015 New Zealand rugby league tour of England was a tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team. The New Zealand national rugby league team played a match against the Leeds Rhinos and competed in a three match test series against England for the Baskerville Shield, losing 2-1.

Background[]

The Third test: New Zealand against Great Britain in 2007.

New Zealand had originally intended to host a tour against France, while Australia was speculated to host a Great Britain Lions tour. However the Australian Rugby League Commission declined to host a tour and as an alternative the Rugby Football League invited the New Zealand Rugby League to tour Great Britain for a three match series.[1]

New Zealand was last in the United Kingdom for the World Cup in 2013.

On 25 February 2015, the three test match venues were confirmed with Hull's KC Stadium hosting game one on 1 November, the London Olympic Stadium hosting the second test on 7 November and the final test match being held at Wigan's DW Stadium on 14 November.[2]

The match against Leeds was the first time a Super League side had played a touring side since 2002, when the Kiwis played matches against Hull F.C. and St. Helens. It was the first time that Leeds played New Zealand since 1992. The match celebrated the 125th anniversary of Headingley Rugby Stadium. Leeds has defeated New Zealand once in eleven matches between the two teams.[3][4]

Squad[]

Training squad[]

An initial training squad was named on 8 September 2015 and added to as teams were eliminated from the NRL finals. Kieran Foran was among those initially named but he later withdrew due to injury, joining Shaun Johnson, Thomas Leuluai, Manu Vatuvei, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Jared Warea-Hargreaves as being unavailable for the tour.[5] Skipper Simon Mannering was also later made unavailable for the test series due to injury.[6]

Club Team Players
Squad named on 8 September[7]
Manly Sea Eagles Kieran Foran, Peta Hiku
New Zealand Warriors Solomone Kata, Tui Lolohea, Simon Mannering (c), Ben Matulino, Bodene Thompson
Parramatta Eels Manu Mau
Penrith Panthers Lewis Brown, Sam McKendry, Elijah Taylor, Dean Whare
Wests Tigers Manaia Cherrington, Tim Simona, Martin Taupau
Added on 18 September[8]
South Sydney Rabbitohs Bryson Goodwin, Issac Luke
St George Illawarra Dragons Jason Nightingale
Added on 24 September[9]
Canterbury Bulldogs Curtis Rona, Greg Eastwood
Cronulla Sharks Gerard Beale, Sosaia Feki
Wests Tigers Te Maire Martin
Added on 1 October[10]
Melbourne Storm Jesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor
Sydney Roosters Matt McIlwrick, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Isaac Liu, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Moa

Final squad[]

The final touring squad of 23 players was named on 8 October.[11]

On 10 October, Jason Taumalolo withdrew from the touring 23-man squad due to a knee injury. He was replaced by Manaia Cherrington.[12] Curtis Rona left the tour after the second test match, returning to Australia to be present for the birth of his daughter.[13]

Name Club Position(s) Games Tries Goals FGs Points
Gerard Beale Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Centre 0 0 0 0 0
Adam Blair (c) Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Prop, Second-row 4 0 0 0 0
Jesse Bromwich Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm Prop 4 1 0 0 4
Lewis Brown Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2017 colours.svg Penrith Panthers Second-row 3 0 0 0 0
Manaia Cherrington Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Hooker 0 0 0 0 0
Alex Glenn Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Second-row 3 0 0 0 0
Tohu Harris Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm Second-row 4 1 0 0 4
Peta Hiku Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Sea Eagles Fullback 4 0 0 0 0
Jordan Kahu Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Fullback, Wing, Centre 4 2 1 1 11
Shaun Kenny-Dowall Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Wing, Centre 4 1 0 0 4
Isaac Liu Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Lock 0 0 0 0 0
Tuimoala Lolohea New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors Fullback, Wing, Five-eighth 2 0 2 0 4
Issac Luke (c) South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs Hooker 4 0 4 0 8
Ben Matulino New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors Prop 4 0 0 0 0
Sam Moa Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Prop 4 1 0 0 4
Jason Nightingale St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons Wing 4 2 0 0 8
Kodi Nikorima Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Fullback, Halfback, Hooker 4 1 0 0 4
Kevin Proctor Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm Second-row 4 0 0 0 0
Curtis Rona Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bulldogs Wing 0 0 0 0 0
Sio Siua Taukeiaho Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Second-row 2 0 0 0 0
Martin Taupau Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Lock 4 0 0 0 0
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Fullback 4 3 0 0 12
Dean Whare Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2017 colours.svg Penrith Panthers Centre 4 1 0 0 4

Venues[]

The four matches were played at the following venues in England.

Leeds Hull London Wigan
Headingley KC Stadium Olympic Stadium DW Stadium
Capacity: 21,062 Capacity: 25,400 Capacity: 66,000 Capacity: 25,138
Extentia Stand-Headingley Rugby.jpg KC Stadium before Hull v Burnley.jpg 2015 Rugby World Cup, France vs. Romania (21048401024).jpg England v France 2013 RLWC (1).jpg

Fixtures[]

New Zealand played four matches on tour, including three test matches against England.[14] England also played a test match against France on 24 October.[15][16]

Date Opponent Venue Result Score Attendance Report
23 October Leeds Rhinos Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds Won 34–16 20,158 [17]
1 November England KC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull Lost 12–26 23,526 [18]
7 November England Olympic Stadium, London Won 9–2 44,393 [19]
14 November England DW Stadium, Wigan Lost 14–20 24,741 [20]

Game 1[]

2015 (2015) Game 1  ()
12 Total
LEE Rhinoscolours.svg 610 16
NZL New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 1024 34
Date23 October 2015
StadiumHeadingley
LocationLeeds, England
RefereesEngland Richard Silverwood
Attendance20,158
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

Gerard Beale was originally named to play but was replaced by Lewis Brown.

23 October 2015
Leeds Rhinos Rhinoscolours.svg 16–34  New Zealand
Tries: Moon (2) 28' c, 55' c
Briscoe 73'
Goal: Lilley (2/3) 29', 56'
[17] Tries: Nightingale 37' c
Kahu 40'
Bromwich 63' c
Whare 66'
Tuivasa-Sheck (2) 69', 80'
Nikorima 78' c
Goal: Luke (1/2) 38'
Lolohea (2/5) 63', 78'
FB 1 Ashton Golding
RW 2 Tom Briscoe
RC 3 Jimmy Keinhorst
LC 4 Joel Moon
LW 5 Ash Handley
SO 6 Danny McGuire
SH 7 Jordan Lilley
PR 8 Kylie Leuluai
HK 9 Robbie Ward
PR 10 Mitch Garbutt
SR 11 Adrian Morley
SR 12 Josh Walters
LF 13 Adam Cuthbertson
Substitutions:
BE 14 Ali Lauitiiti
BE 15 Anthony Mullally
BE 16 Mitch Achurch
BE 17 Jordan Baldwinson
BE 18 Rob Mulhern
BE 19 Brad Singleton
Coach:
Brian McDermott
FB 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW 2 Jason Nightingale
RC 3 Jordan Kahu
LC 4 Dean Whare
LW 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE 6 Peta Hiku
HB 7 Tuimoala Lolohea
PR 8 Jesse Bromwich
HK 9 Issac Luke (Captain)
PR 10 Ben Matulino
SR 11 Kevin Proctor
SR 12 Tohu Harris
LK 13 Martin Taupau
Substitutions:
BE 14 Kodi Nikorima
BE 15 Adam Blair (Captain)
BE 16 Sam Moa
BE 17 Sio Siua Taukeiaho
BE 18 Alex Glenn
BE 20 Lewis Brown
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

Test 1[]

2015 (2015) Test 1  ()
12 Total
ENG England colours.svg 1214 26
NZL New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 120 12
Date1 November 2015
StadiumKC Stadium
LocationHull, England
England Brett Ferres
RefereesEngland Ben Thaler[23]
Attendance23,526
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

Alex Glenn and Lewis Brown were named as 18th and 19th man respectively for the Kiwis.[25]

1 November 2015
England  26–12  New Zealand
Try: Hodgson 21' c
Ferres (2) 36' c, 59' c
O'Loughlin 77' c
Goal: Widdop (5/5) 21', 36', 46', 59', 77'
[18] Try: Harris 7'
Moa 17' c
Goal: Luke (2/3) 17', 27'
FB 1 Zak Hardaker
RW 2 Joe Burgess
RC 3 Kallum Watkins
LC 4 John Bateman
LW 5 Ryan Hall
SO 6 Gareth Widdop
SH 7 George Williams
PR 8 James Graham
HK 9 Josh Hodgson
PR 10 Chris Hill
SR 11 Elliott Whitehead
SR 12 Liam Farrell
LF 13 Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE 14 James Roby
BE 15 Tom Burgess
BE 16 Michael Cooper
BE 17 Brett Ferres
Coach:
Steve McNamara
FB 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW 2 Jason Nightingale
RC 3 Jordan Kahu
LC 4 Dean Whare
LW 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE 6 Peta Hiku
HB 7 Tuimoala Lolohea
PR 8 Jesse Bromwich
HK 9 Issac Luke (Captain)
PR 10 Sam Moa
SR 11 Kevin Proctor
SR 12 Tohu Harris
LK 13 Adam Blair (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE 14 Kodi Nikorima
BE 15 Martin Taupau
BE 16 Ben Matulino
BE 17 Sio Siua Taukeiaho
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

Test 2[]

2015 (2015) Test 2  ()
12 Total
ENG England colours.svg 20 2
NZL New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 27 9
Date7 November 2015
StadiumLondon Olympic Stadium
LocationLondon, England
New Zealand Issac Luke
RefereesAustralia Gerard Sutton[23]
Attendance44,393
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

Stephen Kearney originally named Tuimoala Lolohea at halfback before selecting Kodi Nikorima to start the match.[26]

7 November 2015
England  2–9  New Zealand
Goal: Widdop (1/1) 8' [19] Try: Kenny-Dowall 43' c
Goal: Luke (1/2) 14'
Kahu (1/1) 43'
Drop Goal: Kahu (1/1) 77'
FB 1 Zak Hardaker
RW 2 Joe Burgess
RC 3 Kallum Watkins
LC 4 John Bateman
LW 5 Ryan Hall
SO 6 Gareth Widdop
SH 7 George Williams
PR 8 James Graham
HK 9 Josh Hodgson
PR 10 Chris Hill
SR 11 Elliott Whitehead
SR 12 Liam Farrell
LF 13 Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE 14 James Roby
BE 15 Tom Burgess
BE 16 Michael Cooper
BE 17 Brett Ferres
Coach:
Steve McNamara
FB 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW 2 Jason Nightingale
RC 3 Jordan Kahu
LC 4 Dean Whare
LW 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE 6 Peta Hiku
HB 19 Kodi Nikorima
PR 8 Jesse Bromwich
HK 9 Issac Luke (Captain)
PR 10 Sam Moa
SR 11 Kevin Proctor
SR 12 Tohu Harris
LK 13 Adam Blair (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE 14 Lewis Brown
BE 15 Martin Taupau
BE 16 Ben Matulino
BE 17 Alex Glenn
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

Test 3[]

2015 (2015) Test 3  ()
12 Total
ENG England colours.svg 812 20
NZL New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 68 14
Date14 November 2015
StadiumDW Stadium
LocationWigan, England
England Matty Smith
RefereesEngland Ben Thaler[27]
Attendance24,741
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators

With the win, England retained the Baskerville Shield. Isaac Liu and Gerard Beale were 18th and 19th man respectively for New Zealand.[28]

14 November 2015
England  20–14  New Zealand
Try: Whitehead (2) 27' c, 63' c
O'Loughlin 72' c
Goal: Widdop (4/4) 5', 27', 63', 72'
[20] Try: Nightingale 36' c
Tuivasa-Sheck 75'
Kahu 79'
Goal: Luke (1/3) 36'
FB 1 Zak Hardaker
RW 2 Jermaine McGillvary
RC 3 Kallum Watkins
LC 4 John Bateman
LW 5 Ryan Hall
SO 6 Gareth Widdop
SH 7 Matty Smith
PR 8 James Graham
HK 9 Josh Hodgson
PR 10 Chris Hill
SR 11 Elliott Whitehead
SR 12 Liam Farrell
LF 13 Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE 14 James Roby
BE 15 Tom Burgess
BE 16 Michael Cooper
BE 17 Brett Ferres
Coach:
Steve McNamara
FB 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW 2 Jason Nightingale
RC 3 Jordan Kahu
LC 4 Dean Whare
LW 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE 6 Peta Hiku
HB 7 Kodi Nikorima
PR 8 Jesse Bromwich
HK 9 Issac Luke (Captain)
PR 10 Sam Moa
SR 11 Kevin Proctor
SR 12 Tohu Harris
LK 13 Adam Blair (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE 14 Lewis Brown
BE 15 Martin Taupau
BE 16 Ben Matulino
BE 17 Alex Glenn
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

Aftermath[]

England's captain, Sean O'Loughlin was awarded the George Smith Medal as player of the series. This was England's first major series win in 8 years with their last win coming in the previous Kiwis tour of Great Britain.[29]

References[]

  1. ^ Kiwis to tour England in 2015 nzherald.co.nz, 4 September 2014
  2. ^ "Olympic Stadium to host England-New Zealand rugby league Test". BBC Sport. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Kiwis to take on Leeds in historic clash". New Zealand Herald. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Kiwis take on Rhinos in historic clash". nzrl.co.nz. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Kiwis five-eighth Kieran Foran out of tour to England with elbow injury". stuff.co.nz. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Kiwis skipper Simon Mannering ruled out of tour to England due to 'gastric issues'". stuff.co.nz. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Warriors rookies named in Kiwis train-on squad". New Zealand Herald. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Trio added to wider Kiwis tour squad". New Zealand Rugby League. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  9. ^ "Five more added to Kiwis training squad". sports.yahoo.com. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  10. ^ "Roosters rookies make Kiwis squad". nrl.com. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Kiwis name squad for England tour". NRL.com. 8 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Star Kiwis forward Jason Taumalolo ruled out of England tour as Manaia Cherrington gets the call-up". stuff.co.nz. 10 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Top three winners and losers from Kiwis tour of England". stuff.co.nz. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  14. ^ England and New Zealand to make history at London’s Olympic Stadium aprlc.com, 26 February 2015
  15. ^ "England to face France before New Zealand series". 27 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Rugby League Super 8s - News & Live Scores - Betting Tips - Sporting Life". sportinglife.com.
  17. ^ a b "BBC Sport - New Zealand beat Leeds Rhinos in warm-up before England series". BBC Sport.
  18. ^ a b "England claim comeback win over New Zealand in first Test". Sky Sports.
  19. ^ a b "New Zealand beat England 9-2 to level Test series". Sky Sports.
  20. ^ a b "International Series 2015: England 20-14 New Zealand - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 14 November 2015.
  21. ^ "Leeds v NZ live on Premier Sports". 21 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  22. ^ a b c d KIWIS Tour of Great Britain - LIVE SKY SPORT 2 skysport.co.nz, 22 October 2015
  23. ^ a b "Referees appointed for New Zealand v England Test Series". 21 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  24. ^ a b c "England series with New Zealand to be shown live on BBC". 26 June 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  25. ^ "Kiwis name four debutants for first test". New Zealand Herald. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  26. ^ "Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney admits to taking huge gamble on Kodi Nikorima". stuff.co.nz. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  27. ^ "Ben Thaler gets nod to referee England-New Zealand decider". 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  28. ^ "New Zealand unchanged for third Test against England". Sky Sports. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  29. ^ "England claim series victory". sportinglife.aol.co.uk. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
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