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2002 New Zealand rugby league tour

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The 2002 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France was a tour by the New Zealand national rugby league team. The New Zealand national rugby league team drew the series 1.5-1.5 against Great Britain and also defeated Wales and France.

Background

[edit]

This was the Kiwis first tour of Great Britain since the 2000 World Cup, the Kangaroos having toured Great Britain the previous year.

The original squad named in September included Nathan Cayless, Craig Smith and Tevita Vaikona who all later had to withdraw from the final squad.[1][2]

Before the tour started the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, held an official reception for the team at the Beehive. It was the first New Zealand rugby league tour to receive an official farewell from a Prime Minister in Parliament.[3]

The tour was opened against Hull F.C. at The Boulevard, the same ground had hosted the first Test matched played by the 1907 New Zealand team. This match was the last international played at the ground, while the 1907 team had played in the first.[4]

Motu Tony broke his hand in the match against England A and was ruled out of the rest of the tour. Steve Clark refereed all three Test matches against Great Britain.

Former Kiwis player Sean Hoppe, who had not represented his country since 1999, was given the honour of captaining St Helens R.F.C. in a tour match against the Kiwis.[5][6] The match was meant to be his last before retirement however he was later called into the touring squad due to injuries and his final two matches were test matches against Great Britain and France. Hoppe was called up over Lesley Vainikolo who was also considered as a replacement after injuries to several backs including Motu Tony and Clinton Toopi.[7]

In the end Great Britain tied the series, taking the inaugural Baskerville Shield as hosts.[8] The third test match was Great Britain's first win over New Zealand since 1993.

Squad

[edit]

Kiwis captain Nathan Cayless withdrew due to suspension and was replaced by Andrew Lomu while Willie Talau required surgery and was unavailable. After the Australia Test both Lomu and Matt Utai were withdrawn by their clubs for off-season surgery. On arriving in England, English based players Craig Smith and Tevita Vaikona were ruled out due to injury.[9] Later Motu Tony and Robbie Paul were sidelined with injuries and in France Richard Swain left to sign a deal with the Broncos and Stephen Kearney flew home due to a family illness.[10]

Clinton Toopi broke his hand in a scuffle with Nigel Vagana during a team drinking session after the second test. Freeman and team management initially tried to cover up the incident, claiming the injury occurred during the match, before media found out and had a field day.[10]

Name Club Australia Wales GB GB GB France Games Tries Goals FGs Points
Monty Betham New Zealand Warriors BE BE BE LK 4 0 0 0 0
Jason Cayless Sydney Roosters PR 1 0 0 0 0
Henry Fa'afili New Zealand Warriors WG WG WG WG WG WG 6 3 0 0 12
Awen Guttenbeil New Zealand Warriors BE SR LK LK SR BE 6 0 0 0 0
Lance Hohaia New Zealand Warriors FE FE FE FE FE FE 6 1 7 0 18
Sean Hoppe St Helens R.F.C. WG CE 2 0 0 0 0
Stacey Jones (c) New Zealand Warriors HB HB HB HB HB HB 6 6 1 0 26
Stephen Kearney Melbourne Storm LK LK SR SR 4 1 0 0 4
Ali Lauitiiti New Zealand Warriors SR SR SR BE BE SR 6 1 0 0 4
Andrew Lomu Sydney Roosters BE 1 0 0 0 0
Francis Meli New Zealand Warriors WG WG WG CE WG 5 4 0 0 16
Robbie Paul Bradford Bulls FB FB FB HK 4 1 0 0 4
Tony Puletua Penrith Panthers BE BE BE BE 4 0 0 0 0
Paul Rauhihi Bulldogs RLFC PR PR PR PR PR PR 6 0 0 0 0
Jerry Seuseu New Zealand Warriors PR PR PR PR PR BE 6 1 0 0 4
Michael Smith Castleford Tigers SR 1 0 0 0 0
David Solomona Parramatta Eels BE BE BE BE BE 5 0 0 0 0
Richard Swain Melbourne Storm HK HK HK HK HK 5 2 14 0 36
Logan Swann New Zealand Warriors BE BE BE BE BE 5 2 0 0 8
Motu Tony New Zealand Warriors BE 1 0 0 0 0
Clinton Toopi New Zealand Warriors CE CE CE 3 1 0 0 4
Matt Utai Bulldogs RLFC WG 1 1 0 0 4
David Vaealiki Parramatta Eels FB FB FB 3 1 0 0 4
Nigel Vagana Bulldogs RLFC CE CE CE CE CE CE 6 4 0 0 16
Ruben Wiki Canberra Raiders SR CE SR SR LK 5 1 0 0 4

Fixtures

[edit]

The New Zealand side played five test matches while on their European tour and one test in New Zealand before leaving.

New Zealand vs Australia

[edit]
12 October 2002
New Zealand  24–32  Australia
Tries:
Stacey Jones
Richard Swain
Clinton Toopi
Matt Utai

Goals:
Richard Swain (4/5)
[11]
Tries:
Matthew Gidley (2)
Scott Hill
Ben Kennedy
Willie Mason
Timana Tahu
Goals:
Hazem El Masri (4/7)
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Attendance: 25,015
Referee: Bill Harrigan (Australia)
Player of the Match: Scott Hill (Australia)
New Zealand
Australia
FB 1 David Vaealiki
LW 2 Henry Fa'afili
RC 3 Nigel Vagana
LC 4 Clinton Toopi
RW 5 Matt Utai
FE 6 Lance Hohaia
HB 7 Stacey Jones (c)
PR 8 Jerry Seuseu
HK 9 Richard Swain
PR 10 Paul Rauhihi
SR 11 Ali Lauiti'iti
SR 12 Ruben Wiki
LK 13 Stephen Kearney
Substitutions:
IC 14 Motu Tony
IC 15 Andrew Lomu
IC 16 Awen Guttenbeil
IC 17 David Solomona
Coach:
New Zealand Gary Freeman
FB 1 Darren Lockyer
LW 2 Timana Tahu
RC 3 Matthew Gidley
LC 4 Brent Tate
RW 5 Hazem El Masri
FE 6 Trent Barrett
HB 7 Brett Kimmorley
PR 8 Shane Webcke
HK 9 Danny Buderus
PR 10 Jason Stevens
SR 11 Gorden Tallis (c)
SR 12 Ben Kennedy
LF 13 Scott Hill
Substitutions:
IC 14 Craig Wing
IC 15 Craig Fitzgibbon
IC 16 Steve Menzies
IC 17 Willie Mason
Coach:
Australia Chris Anderson

British leg

[edit]
22 October
Hull F.C. 11–28  New Zealand
Tries:
Richard Horne, Paul Parker
Goals:
Matt Crowther (1)
Field Goals:
Graham Mackay (1)
[12]
Tries:
Henry Fa'afili (2), David Vaealiki, Nigel Vagana, Francis Meli
Goals:
Lance Hohaia (4)
The Boulevard, Kingston upon Hull
Attendance: 12,092
Referee: Robert Connolly

Hull: Steve Prescott, Paul Parker, Richard Horne, Graham Mackay, Matt Crowther, Jason Smith (c), Tony Smith, Craig Greenhill, Lee Jackson, Scott Logan, Adam Maher, Sean Ryan, Chris Chester. Res: Craig Poucher, Paul Cooke, Richard Fletcher, Paul King. Coach: Shaun McRae

New Zealand: David Vaealiki, Francis Meli, Nigel Vagana, Clinton Toopi, Henry Fa'afili, Motu Tony, Lance Hohaia, Jason Cayless, Monty Betham, Paul Rauhihi, Tony Puletua, Ruben Wiki, Logan Swann. Res: Michael Smith, Richard Swain, Awen Guttenbeil, Stephen Kearney



30 October
England A 12–34  New Zealand
[13]

Wales vs New Zealand

[edit]
3 November 2002
Wales  22–50  New Zealand
Tries:
Paul Atcheson
Hefin O'Hare
Kris Tassell


Goals:
Lee Briers (5)
[14]
Tries:
Francis Meli (3)
Logan Swann (2)
Lance Hohaia
Stacey Jones
Robbie Paul
Goals:
Richard Swain (6)
Lance Hohaia (1)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 8,746
Referee: Steve Ganson (England)
Player of the Match: Stacey Jones (New Zealand)
Wales
New Zealand
FB 1 Damian Gibson
RW 2 Hefin O'Hare
RC 3 Kris Tassell
LC 4 Adam Hughes
LW 5 Chris Smith
SO 6 Lee Briers (c)
SH 7 Mark Lennon
PR 8 Keith Mason
HK 9 Ian Watson
PR 10 Dave Whittle
SR 11 Justin Morgan
SR 12 David Mills
LK 13 Paul Highton
Substitutions:
IC 14 Paul Atcheson
IC 15 Gareth Dean
IC 16 Gareth Price
IC 17 Rob Roberts
Coach:
England Neil Kelly
FB 1 Robbie Paul
LW 2 Henry Fa'afili
RC 3 Nigel Vagana
LC 4 Ruben Wiki
RW 5 Francis Meli
FE 6 Lance Hohaia
HB 7 Stacey Jones (c)
PR 8 Jerry Seuseu
HK 9 Richard Swain
PR 10 Paul Rauhihi
SR 11 Ali Lauiti'iti
SR 12 Awen Guttenbeil
LK 13 Stephen Kearney
Substitutions:
IC 14 Monty Betham
IC 15 David Solomona
IC 16 Logan Swann
IC 17 Tony Puletua
Coach:
New Zealand Gary Freeman

Baskerville Shield

[edit]

After 30 New Zealand vs England / Great Britain test series since 1907, the Baskerville Shield was inaugurated for series between New Zealand and England / Great Britain. The shield is named in honour of Albert Henry Baskerville who organised New Zealand's first ever tour of Great Britain in 1907.

Venues

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The three Baskerville Shield tests took place at the following venues.

Blackburn Huddersfield Wigan
Ewood Park McAlpine Stadium JJB Stadium
Capacity: 31,000 Capacity: 24,500 Capacity: 25,133

1st Test

[edit]
9 November 2002
Great Britain  16–30  New Zealand
Tries:
Jamie Peacock
Leon Pryce

Goals:
Andy Farrell (4)
[15]
Tries:
Henry Fa'afili (3)
Nigel Vagana (2)
Stacey Jones
Goals:
Richard Swain (3)
Ewood Park, Blackburn
Attendance: 16,654
Referee: Steve Clark (Australia)
Great Britain
New Zealand
FB 1 Gary Connolly
RW 2 Leon Pryce
RC 3 Martin Gleeson
LC 4 Keith Senior
LW 5 Karl Pratt
SO 6 Kevin Sinfield
SH 7 Paul Deacon
PR 8 Stuart Fielden
HK 9 Keiron Cunningham
PR 10 Barrie McDermott
SR 11 Andy Farrell (c)
SR 12 Adrian Morley
LK 13 Mike Forshaw
Substitutions:
IC 14 Lee Gilmour
IC 15 Chris Joynt
IC 16 Paul Anderson
IC 17 Jamie Peacock
Coach:
Australia David Waite
FB 1 Robbie Paul
LW 2 Henry Fa'afili
RC 3 Nigel Vagana
LC 4 Clinton Toopi
RW 5 Francis Meli
FE 6 Lance Hohaia
HB 7 Stacey Jones (c)
PR 8 Jerry Seuseu
HK 9 Richard Swain
PR 10 Paul Rauhihi
SR 11 Ali Lauiti'iti
SR 12 Stephen Kearney
LK 13 Awen Guttenbeil
Substitutions:
IC 14 Monty Betham
IC 15 David Solomona
IC 16 Logan Swann
IC 17 Tony Puletua
Coach:
New Zealand Gary Freeman

Henry Fa'afili scored three tries in the 30–16 first test win over Great Britain at Ewood Park, the first Kiwis hat-trick against the Lions in 97 matches dating back to 1907. His tries all came in the second half as the Kiwis rallied from a 10–6 halftime deficit to win comfortably.[10]


2nd Test

[edit]
Great Britain
New Zealand
FB 1 Gary Connolly
RW 2 Lee Gilmour
RC 3 Martin Gleeson
LC 4 Keith Senior
LW 5 Leon Pryce
SO 6 Paul Sculthorpe
SH 7 Paul Deacon
PR 8 Terry O'Connor
HK 9 James Lowes
PR 10 Stuart Fielden
SR 11 Jamie Peacock
SR 12 Andy Farrell (c)
LK 13 Mike Forshaw
Substitutions:
IC 14 Kevin Sinfield
IC 15 Richard Horne
IC 16 Paul Anderson
IC 17 Danny Orr
Coach:
Australia David Waite
FB 1 Robbie Paul
LW 2 Henry Fa'afili
RC 3 Nigel Vagana
LC 4 Clinton Toopi
RW 5 Francis Meli
FE 6 Lance Hohaia
HB 7 Stacey Jones (c)
PR 8 Jerry Seuseu
HK 9 Richard Swain
PR 10 Paul Rauhihi
SR 11 Ruben Wiki
SR 12 Stephen Kearney
LK 13 Awen Guttenbeil
Substitutions:
IC 14 Tony Puletua
IC 15 Ali Lauiti'iti
IC 16 Monty Betham
IC 17 Logan Swann
Coach:
New Zealand Gary Freeman

3rd Test

[edit]
23 November 2002
Great Britain  16–10  New Zealand
Tries:
Martin Gleeson
Paul Sculthorpe
Keith Senior
Goals:
Andy Farrell (2)
[17]
Tries:
Stacey Jones
Ali Lauiti'iti

Goals:
Stacey Jones (1)
JJB Stadium, Wigan
Attendance: 22,247
Referee: Steve Clark (Australia)
Great Britain
New Zealand
FB 1 Gary Connolly
RW 2 Leon Pryce
RC 3 Martin Gleeson
LC 4 Keith Senior
LW 5 Lee Gilmour
SO 6 Paul Sculthorpe
SH 7 Paul Deacon
PR 8 Stuart Fielden
HK 9 James Lowes
PR 10 Barrie McDermott
SR 11 Adrian Morley
SR 12 Andy Farrell (c)
LK 13 Mike Forshaw
Substitutions:
IC 14 Danny Orr
IC 15 Jamie Peacock
IC 16 Paul Anderson
IC 17 Richard Horne
Coach:
Australia David Waite
FB 1 David Vaealiki
LW 2 Henry Fa'afili
RC 3 Nigel Vagana
LC 4 Sean Hoppe
RW 5 Francis Meli
FE 6 Lance Hohaia
HB 7 Stacey Jones (c)
PR 8 Jerry Seuseu
HK 9 Richard Swain
PR 10 Paul Rauhihi
SR 11 Ruben Wiki
SR 12 Awen Guttenbeil
LK 13 Monty Betham
Substitutions:
IC 14 Tony Puletua
IC 15 David Solomona
IC 16 Ali Lauiti'iti
IC 17 Logan Swann
Coach:
New Zealand Gary Freeman

France vs New Zealand

[edit]
30 November 2002
France  10–36  New Zealand
Tries:
Jérôme Guisset
Claude Sirvent


Goals:
Laurent Frayssinous (2)
[18]
Tries:
Stacey Jones (2)
Nigel Vagana (2)
Jerry Seuseu
David Vaealiki
Goals:
Lance Hohaia (6)
Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan
Attendance: 6,500
Referee: Robert Connolly (England)
France
New Zealand
FB 1 Michael Van Snick
RW 2 Renaud Guigue
RC 3 Claude Sirvent
LC 4 Arnaud Dulac
LW 5 Fourcade Abasse
SO 6 Laurent Frayssinous
SH 7 Julien Rinaldi
PR 8 Jérôme Guisset
HK 9 David Berthezène
PR 10 Romain Gagliazzo
SR 11 Pascal Jampy (c)
SR 12 Sébastien Raguin
LK 13 Laurent Carrasco
Substitutions:
IC 14 Olivier Pramil
IC 15 Jamal Fakir
IC 16 Jean-Christophe Borlin
IC 17 Julien Gerin
Coach:
France Gilles Dumas
FB 1 David Vaealiki
LW 2 Henry Fa'afili
RC 3 Nigel Vagana
LC 4 Sean Hoppe
RW 5 Francis Meli
FE 6 Lance Hohaia
HB 7 Stacey Jones (c)
PR 8 Jason Cayless
HK 9 Richard Swain
PR 10 Paul Rauhihi
SR 11 Ali Lauiti'iti
SR 12 Michael Smith
LK 13 Ruben Wiki
Substitutions:
IC 14 Awen Guttenbeil
IC 15 David Solomona
IC 16 Jerry Seuseu
IC 17 Logan Swann
Coach:
New Zealand Gary Freeman

Aftermath

[edit]

New Zealand halfback Stacey Jones won the George Smith Medal as player of the series against Great Britain.[19] The tour was Freeman's last as head coach. In 2003 Daniel Anderson was named as the new Kiwis coach.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ In-form Smith wins Kiwi call-up BBC Sport, 21 September 2002
  2. ^ NZ player profiles BBC Sport, 21 October 2002
  3. ^ Jessup, Peter (12 October 2002). "Kiwi players let their hair down at Clark bash". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  4. ^ New Zealand Rugby League Annual 2002, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 2002. p.35
  5. ^ Hoppe's last stand; Sean's set to skipper St Helens The Daily Post, 25 October 2002
  6. ^ SAINTS STARS' LAST GOODBYE One hell of a bargain for Blues; Knowsley Road favourites bow out against Kiwis Liverpool Echo, 25 October 2002
  7. ^ Freeman eyes Vainikolo to replace injured Tony New Zealand Herald, 1 November 2002
  8. ^ Lions edge Kiwis in thriller BBC Sport, 23 November 2002
  9. ^ New Zealand Rugby League Annual 2002, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 2002. p.34
  10. ^ a b c New Zealand Herald. "Rugby League: Kiwis tours build up special magic". nzherald.co.nz.
  11. ^ New Zealand vs Australia test
  12. ^ "Hull F.C vs New Zealand". Archived from the original on 2008-11-14. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
  13. ^ a b Kiwi tour schedule BBC Sport, 23 October 2002
  14. ^ Wales vs New Zealand
  15. ^ 1st Test - Great Britain vs New Zealand[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "2nd Test - Great Britain vs New Zealand". Archived from the original on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
  17. ^ "3rd Test - Great Britain vs New Zealand". Archived from the original on 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
  18. ^ France vs New Zealand
  19. ^ "Jones voted world's best". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 December 2002. Retrieved 20 August 2014.