2015 New Zealand rugby league tour of England

Rugby matches 2015 Kiwi tour Sam's Shots 1 - 25089653614.jpg New Zealand vs Leeds Rhinos in Game 1 of the tour 23 October 2015 – 14 November 2015 4 2 0 2 3 1 0 2 Leeds 16 Leeds Rhinos 1 1 0 0 ENG 3 1 0 2 2007 2018 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 RLIF World Rankings RLIF World RankingsOfficial Rankings as of May 2015RLIF Rankings.RankChangeTeamPoints1 New Zealand949.003 England 485.00 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.Kiwis to tour England in 2015 nzherald.co.nz, 4 September 2014 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.https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/31627292 Olympic Stadium to host England-New Zealand rugby league Test BBC Sport 25 February 2015 25 February 2015 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. Leeds has defeated New Zealand once in eleven matches between the two teams.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11428728 Kiwis to take on Leeds in historic clash New Zealand Herald 7 April 2015 7 April 2015http://nzrl.co.nz/news-archive/kiwis-take-on-rhinos-in-historic-clash.aspx Kiwis take on Rhinos in historic clash nzrl.co.nz 7 April 2015 7 April 2015 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.http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/72590994/kiwis-fiveeighth-kieran-foran-out-of-tour-to-england-with-elbow-injury Kiwis five-eighth Kieran Foran out of tour to England with elbow injury stuff.co.nz 1 October 2015 1 October 2015 Skipper Simon Mannering was also later made unavailable for the test series due to injury.http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/72754589/kiwis-skipper-simon-mannering-pulls-out-of-tour-to-england-due-to-gastric-issues Kiwis skipper Simon Mannering ruled out of tour to England due to "gastric issues" stuff.co.nz 6 October 2015 7 October 2015 Club Team PlayersSquad named on 8 Septemberhttp://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11509658 Warriors rookies named in Kiwis train-on squad New Zealand Herald 8 September 2015 8 September 2015 Manly Sea EaglesKieran Foran, Peta HikuNew Zealand WarriorsSolomone Kata, Tui Lolohea, Simon Mannering (c), Ben Matulino, Bodene Thompson Parramatta EelsManu Mau Penrith Panthers Lewis Brown, Sam McKendry, Elijah Taylor, Dean Whare Wests Tigers Manaia Cherrington, Tim Simona, Martin TaupauAdded on 18 Septemberhttp://www.nzrl.co.nz/fanzone/news/2015/9/trio-added-to-wider-kiwis-tour-squad/ Trio added to wider Kiwis tour squad New Zealand Rugby League 17 September 2015 18 September 2015South Sydney RabbitohsBryson Goodwin, Issac LukeSt George Illawarra DragonsJason NightingaleAdded on 24 Septemberhttps://nz.sports.yahoo.com/a/29622789/league-five-more-added-to-kiwis-training-squad/ Five more added to Kiwis training squad sports.yahoo.com 24 September 2015 24 September 2015 25 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150925091109/https://nz.sports.yahoo.com/a/29622789/league-five-more-added-to-kiwis-training-squad/ dead Canterbury BulldogsCurtis Rona, Greg EastwoodCronulla SharksGerard Beale, Sosaia FekiWests TigersTe Maire MartinAdded on 1 Octoberhttp://www.nrl.com/roosters-rookies-make-kiwis-squad/tabid/10874/newsid/90294/default.aspx Roosters rookies make Kiwis squad nrl.com 30 September 2015 30 September 2015Melbourne StormJesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Kevin ProctorSydney 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.Kiwis name squad for England tour http://www.nrl.com/kiwis-name-squad-for-england-tour/tabid/10874/newsid/90473/default.aspx NRL.com 8 October 2015 On 10 October, Jason Taumalolo withdrew from the touring 23-man squad due to a knee injury. He was replaced by Manaia Cherrington.Star Kiwis forward Jason Taumalolo ruled out of England tour as Manaia Cherrington gets the call-up http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/72890078/star-kiwis-forward-jason-taumalolo-ruled-out-of-england-tour-as-manaia-cherrington-gets-the-callup stuff.co.nz 10 October 2015 Curtis Rona left the tour after the second test match, returning to Australia to be present for the birth of his daughter.http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/74042981/top-three-winners-and-losers-from-kiwis-tour-of-england Top three winners and losers from Kiwis tour of England stuff.co.nz 15 November 2015 15 November 2015 NameClubPosition(s)GamesTriesGoalsFGsPoints Gerard Beale Cronulla 16 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks CE00000 Adam Blair (c) Brisbane 16 Brisbane Broncos PR SR40000 Jesse Bromwich Melbourne 16 Melbourne Storm PR41004 Lewis Brown Penrith 16 Penrith Panthers SR30000 Manaia Cherrington Wests Tigers 16 Wests Tigers HK00000 Alex Glenn Brisbane 16 Brisbane Broncos SR30000 Tohu Harris Melbourne 16 Melbourne Storm SR41004 Peta Hiku Manly 16 Manly Sea Eagles FB40000 Jordan Kahu Brisbane 16 Brisbane Broncos FB WG CE421111 Shaun Kenny-Dowall Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney Roosters WG CE41004 Isaac Liu Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney Roosters LK00000 Tuimoala Lolohea New Zealand 16 New Zealand Warriors FB WG FE20204 Issac Luke (c) South Sydney 16 South Sydney Rabbitohs HK40408 Ben Matulino New Zealand 16 New Zealand Warriors PR40000 Sam Moa Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney Roosters PR41004 Jason Nightingale St. George 16 St. George Illawarra Dragons WG42008 Kodi Nikorima Brisbane 16 Brisbane Broncos FB HB HK41004 Kevin Proctor Melbourne 16 Melbourne Storm SR40000 Curtis Rona Canterbury 16 Canterbury Bulldogs WG00000 Sio Siua Taukeiaho Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney Roosters SR20000 Martin Taupau Wests Tigers 16 Wests Tigers LK40000 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Eastern Suburbs 16 Sydney Roosters FB430012 Dean Whare Penrith 16 Penrith Panthers CE41004 Tour summary New Zealand played four matches on tour, including three test matches against England.England and New Zealand to make history at London's Olympic Stadium aprlc.com, 26 February 2015 Date Opponent Venue Result Score Attendance Report23 OctoberLeeds RhinosHeadingley, Leeds Won 34–16 20,158 https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/34622520 BBC Sport - New Zealand beat Leeds Rhinos in warm-up before England series BBC Sport1 NovemberEnglandKC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull Lost 12–26 23,526 7 NovemberEnglandOlympic Stadium, London Won 9–2 44,393 14 NovemberEnglandDW Stadium, Wigan Lost 14–20 24,741 Kiwis vs Rhinos: Headingley 125th anniversary match Gerard Beale was originally named to play but was replaced by Lewis Brown. The match was shown on Premier Sportshttp://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_19979-leeds-v-nz-live-on-premier-sports.html Leeds v NZ live on Premier Sports 21 October 2015 23 October 2015 and Sky Sport 2KIWIS Tour of Great Britain - LIVE SKY SPORT 2 skysport.co.nz, 22 October 2015 23 October 2015 Leeds Rhinos Leeds 16 16–34 NZL Tries: Moon (2) 28' c, 55' cBriscoe 73' Goal: Lilley (2/3) 29', 56' Tries: Nightingale 37' cKahu 40'Bromwich 63' cWhare 66'Tuivasa-Sheck (2) 69', 80'Nikorima 78' c Goal: Luke (1/2) 38'Lolohea (2/5) 63', 78' Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds 20,158 ENG Richard Silverwood FB 1Ashton GoldingRW 2Tom BriscoeRC 3Jimmy KeinhorstLC 4Joel Moon LW 5Ash HandleySO 6Danny McGuire SH 7Jordan LilleyPR 8Kylie LeuluaiHK 9Robbie WardPR 10Mitch GarbuttSR 11Adrian MorleySR 12Josh WaltersLF 13Adam CuthbertsonSubstitutions:BE 14Ali LauitiitiBE 15Anthony MullallyBE 16Mitch AchurchBE 17Jordan BaldwinsonBE 18Rob MulhernBE 19Brad SingletonCoach:Brian McDermott FB 1Roger Tuivasa-SheckRW 2Jason NightingaleRC 3Jordan KahuLC 4Dean WhareLW 5Shaun Kenny-DowallFE 6Peta HikuHB 7Tuimoala LoloheaPR 8Jesse BromwichHK 9Issac Luke (Captain)PR 10Ben MatulinoSR 11Kevin ProctorSR 12Tohu HarrisLK 13Martin TaupauSubstitutions:BE 14Kodi NikorimaBE 15Adam Blair (Captain)BE 16Sam MoaBE 17Sio Siua TaukeiahoBE 18Alex GlennBE 20Lewis BrownCoach: Stephen Kearney Baskerville Shield Ahead of New Zealand's Baskerville Shield series against England, their opponents had played a warm-up test match against France on 24 October.https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-league/32478365 England to face France before New Zealand series 27 April 2015 29 April 2015http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-league/live/match-report/43791/england-v-france Rugby League Super 8s - News & Live Scores - Betting Tips - Sporting Life sportinglife.com 2015-10-24 2015-10-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20151026223631/http://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-league/live/match-report/43791/england-v-france dead All futures were shown on BBC Sport in the UK,https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/33271058 England series with New Zealand to be shown live on BBC 26 June 2015 17 July 2015 and Sky Sport 2 in New Zealand. Venues Hull London Wigan KC Stadium Olympic Park DW Stadium Capacity: 25,400 Capacity: 66,000 Capacity: 25,138 200px 200px 200px Test 1 1 November 2015 ENG 26–12 NZL Try: Hodgson 21' cFerres (2) 36' c, 59' cO'Loughlin 77' cGoal: Widdop (5/5) 21', 36', 46', 59', 77' Try: Harris 7'Moa 17' cGoal: Luke (2/3) 17', 27' KC Stadium, Kingston-upon-Hull 23,526 England 20 Ben Thalerhttp://www.asiapacificrl.com/2015/10/21/referees-appointed-for-new-zealand-v-england-test-series/ Referees appointed for New Zealand v England Test Series 21 October 2015 22 October 2015 http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/live/match/44085/report England claim comeback win over New Zealand in first Test Sky Sports FB 1Zak HardakerRW 2Joe BurgessRC 3Kallum WatkinsLC 4John BatemanLW 5Ryan HallSO 6Gareth WiddopSH 7George WilliamsPR 8James GrahamHK 9Josh HodgsonPR 10Chris HillSR 11Elliott Whitehead SR 12Liam FarrellLF 13Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)Substitutions:BE 14James RobyBE 15Tom BurgessBE 16Michael CooperBE 17Brett FerresCoach:Steve McNamara FB 1Roger Tuivasa-SheckRW 2Jason NightingaleRC 3Jordan KahuLC 4Dean WhareLW 5Shaun Kenny-DowallFE 6Peta HikuHB 7Tuimoala LoloheaPR 8Jesse BromwichHK 9Issac Luke (Captain)PR 10Sam MoaSR 11Kevin ProctorSR 12Tohu HarrisLK 13Adam Blair (Captain)Substitutions:BE 14Kodi NikorimaBE 15Martin TaupauBE 16Ben Matulino BE 17Sio Siua TaukeiahoCoach: Stephen Kearney Alex Glenn and Lewis Brown were named as 18th and 19th man respectively for the Kiwis.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11537984 Kiwis name four debutants for first test New Zealand Herald 31 October 2015 16 November 2015 Test 2 7 November 2015 ENG 2–9 NZL Goal: Widdop (1/1) 8' Try: Kenny-Dowall 43' cGoal: Luke (1/2) 14'Kahu (1/1) 43'Drop Goal: Kahu (1/1) 77' Olympic Park, London 44,393 AUS Gerard Sutton http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/live/match/44086/report New Zealand beat England 9-2 to level Test series Sky Sports FB 1Zak HardakerRW 2Joe BurgessRC 3Kallum WatkinsLC 4John BatemanLW 5Ryan HallSO 6Gareth WiddopSH 7George WilliamsPR 8James GrahamHK 9Josh HodgsonPR 10Chris HillSR 11Elliott Whitehead SR 12Liam FarrellLF 13Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)Substitutions:BE 14James RobyBE 15Tom BurgessBE 16Michael CooperBE 17Brett FerresCoach:Steve McNamara FB 1Roger Tuivasa-SheckRW 2Jason NightingaleRC 3Jordan KahuLC 4Dean WhareLW 5Shaun Kenny-DowallFE 6Peta HikuHB 19Kodi NikorimaPR 8Jesse BromwichHK 9Issac Luke (Captain)PR 10Sam MoaSR 11Kevin ProctorSR 12Tohu HarrisLK 13Adam Blair (Captain)Substitutions:BE 14Lewis BrownBE 15Martin TaupauBE 16Ben Matulino BE 17Alex GlennCoach: Stephen Kearney Stephen Kearney originally named Tuimoala Lolohea at halfback before selecting Kodi Nikorima to start the match.http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/73801222/kiwis-coach-stephen-kearney-admits-to-huge-gamble-on-kodi-nikorima Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney admits to taking huge gamble on Kodi Nikorima stuff.co.nz 8 November 2015 8 November 2015 Test 3 14 November 2015 ENG 20–14 NZL Try: Whitehead (2) 27' c, 63' cO'Loughlin 72' cGoal: Widdop (4/4) 5', 27', 63', 72' Try: Nightingale 36' cTuivasa-Sheck 75'Kahu 79'Goal: Luke (1/3) 36' DW Stadium, Wigan 24,741 ENG Ben Thalerhttp://au.eurosport.com/rugby-league/ben-thaler-gets-nod-to-referee-england-new-zealand-decider_sto4986144/story.shtml Ben Thaler gets nod to referee England-New Zealand decider 11 November 2015 11 November 2015 International Series 2015: England 20-14 New Zealand - BBC Sport BBC Sport 14 November 2015 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/34801235 FB 1Zak HardakerRW 2Jermaine McGillvaryRC 3Kallum WatkinsLC 4John BatemanLW 5Ryan HallSO 6Gareth WiddopSH 7Matty SmithPR 8James GrahamHK 9Josh HodgsonPR 10Chris HillSR 11Elliott Whitehead SR 12Liam FarrellLF 13Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)Substitutions:BE 14James RobyBE 15Tom BurgessBE 16Michael CooperBE 17Brett FerresCoach:Steve McNamara FB 1Roger Tuivasa-SheckRW 2Jason NightingaleRC 3Jordan KahuLC 4Dean WhareLW 5Shaun Kenny-DowallFE 6Peta HikuHB 7Kodi NikorimaPR 8Jesse BromwichHK 9Issac Luke (Captain)PR 10Sam MoaSR 11Kevin ProctorSR 12Tohu HarrisLK 13Adam Blair (Captain)Substitutions:BE 14Lewis BrownBE 15Martin TaupauBE 16Ben Matulino BE 17Alex GlennCoach: Stephen Kearney With the win, England retained the Baskerville Shield. Isaac Liu and Gerard Beale were 18th and 19th man respectively for New Zealand.http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/15315/10064513/new-zealand-unchanged-for-third-test-against-england New Zealand unchanged for third Test against England Sky Sports 12 November 2015 16 November 2015 Aftermath England's captain, Sean O'Loughlin was awarded the George Smith Medal as player of the series. England's retained the Baskerville Shield, 8 years after it was last contested during the 2007 All Golds Tour.http://sportinglife.aol.co.uk/rugby-league/news/article/22893/10066833/england-beat-new-zealand-20-14-to-win-their-three-test-series-2-1 England claim series victory sportinglife.aol.co.uk 14 November 2015 14 November 2015 15 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151115235229/http://sportinglife.aol.co.uk/rugby-league/news/article/22893/10066833/england-beat-new-zealand-20-14-to-win-their-three-test-series-2-1 dead References 2 Category:New Zealand national rugby league team tours Great Britain and France New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France Category:Rugby league tours of England