2015 New Zealand rugby league tour of England

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 TeamPlayers
Squad named on 8 September[7]
Manly Sea EaglesKieran Foran, Peta Hiku
New Zealand WarriorsSolomone Kata, Tui Lolohea, Simon Mannering (c), Ben Matulino, Bodene Thompson
Parramatta EelsManu Mau
Penrith PanthersLewis Brown, Sam McKendry, Elijah Taylor, Dean Whare
Wests TigersManaia Cherrington, Tim Simona, Martin Taupau
Added on 18 September[8]
South Sydney RabbitohsBryson Goodwin, Issac Luke
St George Illawarra DragonsJason Nightingale
Added on 24 September[9]
Canterbury BulldogsCurtis Rona, Greg Eastwood
Cronulla SharksGerard Beale, Sosaia Feki
Wests TigersTe Maire Martin
Added on 1 October[10]
Melbourne StormJesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor
Sydney RoostersMatt 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]

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

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]

DateOpponentVenueResultScoreAttendanceReport
23 OctoberLeeds RhinosHeadingley Rugby Stadium, LeedsWon34–1620,158[17]
1 NovemberEnglandKC Stadium, Kingston upon HullLost12–2623,526[18]
7 NovemberEnglandOlympic Stadium, LondonWon9–244,393[19]
14 NovemberEnglandDW Stadium, WiganLost14–2024,741[20]

Game 1
2015 (2015) Game 1  ()
Leeds Rhinos New Zealand
16 34
12 Total
LEE 610 16
NZL 1024 34
Date23 October 2015
StadiumHeadingley
LocationLeeds, England
Referees 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 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'
FB1Ashton Golding
RW2Tom Briscoe
RC3Jimmy Keinhorst
LC4Joel Moon
LW5Ash Handley
SO6Danny McGuire
SH7Jordan Lilley
PR8Kylie Leuluai
HK9Robbie Ward
PR10Mitch Garbutt
SR11Adrian Morley
SR12Josh Walters
LF13Adam Cuthbertson
Substitutions:
BE14Ali Lauitiiti
BE15Anthony Mullally
BE16Mitch Achurch
BE17Jordan Baldwinson
BE18Rob Mulhern
BE19Brad Singleton
Coach:
Brian McDermott
FB1Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW2Jason Nightingale
RC3Jordan Kahu
LC4Dean Whare
LW5Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE6Peta Hiku
HB7Tuimoala Lolohea
PR8Jesse Bromwich
HK9Issac Luke (Captain)
PR10Ben Matulino
SR11Kevin Proctor
SR12Tohu Harris
LK13Martin Taupau
Substitutions:
BE14Kodi Nikorima
BE15Adam Blair (Captain)
BE16Sam Moa
BE17Sio Siua Taukeiaho
BE18Alex Glenn
BE20Lewis Brown
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

Test 1
2015 (2015) Test 1  ()
England
 New Zealand
26 12
12 Total
ENG 1214 26
NZL 120 12
Date1 November 2015
StadiumKC Stadium
LocationHull, England
Brett Ferres
Referees 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'
FB1Zak Hardaker
RW2Joe Burgess
RC3Kallum Watkins
LC4John Bateman
LW5Ryan Hall
SO6Gareth Widdop
SH7George Williams
PR8James Graham
HK9Josh Hodgson
PR10Chris Hill
SR11Elliott Whitehead
SR12Liam Farrell
LF13Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE14James Roby
BE15Tom Burgess
BE16Michael Cooper
BE17Brett Ferres
Coach:
Steve McNamara
FB1Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW2Jason Nightingale
RC3Jordan Kahu
LC4Dean Whare
LW5Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE6Peta Hiku
HB7Tuimoala Lolohea
PR8Jesse Bromwich
HK9Issac Luke (Captain)
PR10Sam Moa
SR11Kevin Proctor
SR12Tohu Harris
LK13Adam Blair (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE14Kodi Nikorima
BE15Martin Taupau
BE16Ben Matulino
BE17Sio Siua Taukeiaho
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

Test 2
2015 (2015) Test 2  ()
England
 New Zealand
2 9
12 Total
ENG 20 2
NZL 27 9
Date7 November 2015
StadiumLondon Olympic Stadium
LocationLondon, England
Issac Luke
Referees 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'
FB1Zak Hardaker
RW2Joe Burgess
RC3Kallum Watkins
LC4John Bateman
LW5Ryan Hall
SO6Gareth Widdop
SH7George Williams
PR8James Graham
HK9Josh Hodgson
PR10Chris Hill
SR11Elliott Whitehead
SR12Liam Farrell
LF13Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE14James Roby
BE15Tom Burgess
BE16Michael Cooper
BE17Brett Ferres
Coach:
Steve McNamara
FB1Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW2Jason Nightingale
RC3Jordan Kahu
LC4Dean Whare
LW5Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE6Peta Hiku
HB19Kodi Nikorima
PR8Jesse Bromwich
HK9Issac Luke (Captain)
PR10Sam Moa
SR11Kevin Proctor
SR12Tohu Harris
LK13Adam Blair (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE14Lewis Brown
BE15Martin Taupau
BE16Ben Matulino
BE17Alex Glenn
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

Test 3
2015 (2015) Test 3  ()
England
 New Zealand
20 14
12 Total
ENG 812 20
NZL 68 14
Date14 November 2015
StadiumDW Stadium
LocationWigan, England
Matty Smith
Referees 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'
FB1Zak Hardaker
RW2Jermaine McGillvary
RC3Kallum Watkins
LC4John Bateman
LW5Ryan Hall
SO6Gareth Widdop
SH7Matty Smith
PR8James Graham
HK9Josh Hodgson
PR10Chris Hill
SR11Elliott Whitehead
SR12Liam Farrell
LF13Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE14James Roby
BE15Tom Burgess
BE16Michael Cooper
BE17Brett Ferres
Coach:
Steve McNamara
FB1Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW2Jason Nightingale
RC3Jordan Kahu
LC4Dean Whare
LW5Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE6Peta Hiku
HB7Kodi Nikorima
PR8Jesse Bromwich
HK9Issac Luke (Captain)
PR10Sam Moa
SR11Kevin Proctor
SR12Tohu Harris
LK13Adam Blair (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE14Lewis Brown
BE15Martin Taupau
BE16Ben Matulino
BE17Alex 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. "BBC Sport - New Zealand beat Leeds Rhinos in warm-up before England series". BBC Sport.
  18. "England claim comeback win over New Zealand in first Test". Sky Sports.
  19. "New Zealand beat England 9-2 to level Test series". Sky Sports.
  20. "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. KIWIS Tour of Great Britain - LIVE SKY SPORT 2 skysport.co.nz, 22 October 2015
  23. "Referees appointed for New Zealand v England Test Series". 21 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  24. "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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