Adidas Maori All Blacks Rugby Shirts + Kit - Official
The Māori All Blacks, previously called the New Zealand Māori, New Zealand Maoris and New Zealand Natives, are a rugby union team from New Zealand. They are a representative team of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and a prerequisite for playing is that the player has Māori whakapapa (genealogy). All players have their ancestry verified before selection to the team to ensure they are of Maori descent.The team's first match was in 1888 against Hawke's Bay. This was followed by a tour of Europe in 1888 and 1889 where the team played their first games against national teams, beating Ireland in Dublin before losing to Wales and England. Their early uniforms consisted of a black jersey with a silver fern and white knickerbockers. The New Zealand Māori perform a haka—a Māori challenge or posture dance—before each match. The haka was later adopted by the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, as were their black shirts. In 2001, the Māori first performed the "Timatanga" haka, which describes the evolution of life and the creation of New Zealand from the four winds.
Currently, the Maoris will play a handful of competitive matches a season against International opposition. Wins have been enjoyed in recent years over Ireland, Samoa and Fiji.
The latest official Adidas New Zealand Maori All Blacks rugby Shirts and kit, including replica shirts, and a range of training gear comprised of singlet, gym shorts and tee, all with stunning classic Māori tribal designs is available at rugbystuff.com.