Ireland to play Maori All Blacks

WELLINGTON: Ireland will play the Maori All Blacks in two midweek matches during their threetest tour, New Zealand Rugby said yesterday.

Ireland will meet the representative team in Hamilton on June 29, three days before it kicks off its regular All Blacks series at Eden Park.

The second Maori All Blacks clash will be in Wellington on July 12.

‘‘The Maori All Blacks will provide a stern test of our squad strength and depth,’’ Ireland coach Andy Farrell said in a statement.

‘‘They are effectively a test match side that have a proud tradition and impressive record of results.’’

Ireland has played the Maori All Blacks twice in over 130 years, losing both matches.

It was beaten 134 by the team formerly known as the New Zealand Natives at Lansdowne Road in Dublin in 1888. Their last meeting was in 2010 at Rotorua International Stadium, where the Maori All

Blacks won a 3128 thriller.

‘‘Our rivalry goes back more than 100 years and that will only add to the occasion,’’ Maori All Blacks coach Clayton McMillan said.

‘‘To play the world’s fourthranked team in a twomatch series is an exciting prospect and we expect both games to be huge challenges.’’ — Reuters