1989 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France

December 2025 December 2025 1989 Kiwis tour 1 October 1989 – 3 December 1989 Ian Jenkins Tom McKeown Tony Gordon Hugh McGahan Phil Bancroft (100) Dave Watson (17) 17 13 0 4 5 3 0 2 GBR 3 1 0 2 FRA 2 2 0 0 1985 1993 The 1989 New Zealand rugby league tour was a series of matches played between October and December by the New Zealand national rugby league team in England and France. The team lost a series 1–2 against Great Britain but defeated France 2–0. Background New Zealand last toured Great Britain in 1985. Earlier in 1989, New Zealand lost all three Tests at home to Australia on the 1989 Kangaroo tour. Touring party A 26-man touring squad was selected in September 1989, with Hugh McGahan named as captain, and Gary Freeman as vice-captain.Kiwi trifecta struck by Halswell club https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19890904.2.140 The Press 4 September 1989 40 Christchurch Tony Gordon was the coach, while Ian Jenkins and Tom McKeown were appointed as tour managers.Kiwi manager found https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19890504.2.126.3 The Press 4 May 1989 Christchurch 36 Dean Bell (Wigan) and Kurt Sorensen (Widnes) were not included in the touring squad, but could still be selected for the Tests against Great Britain and France. James Goulding and Tea Ropati were injured during the tour, and were replaced by George Mann and David Ewe.Nikau dismissal rouses tourists https://www.newspapers.com/image/260245007 The Guardian 2 November 1989 London 14 Newspapers.com subscription Ewe was later sent home early from the tour due to misconduct.Ewe keen to 'prove himself over again' https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19891121.2.126.5 The Press 21 November 1989 Christchurch 36 Name Club/DistrictPhil Bancroft NZL AucklandDean Clark Dean Clark (rugby league) NZL AucklandMorvin Edwards NZL WellingtonMark Elia AUS Canterbury-BankstownDavid Ewe NZL WellingtonEsene Faimalo NZL CanterburyGary Freeman Gary Freeman (rugby league) (vc) AUS BalmainJames Goulding AUS NewcastleKevin Iro ENG WiganTony Kemp Tony Kemp (rugby league) AUS NewcastleMike Kuiti NZL WellingtonFrancis Leota NZL AucklandDuane Mann NZL AucklandGeorge Mann George Mann (rugby league) ENG St HelensHugh McGahan (c) AUS Eastern SuburbsGary Mercer NZL Bay of PlentyTawera Nikau NZL AucklandTea Ropati NZL AucklandAdrian Shelford ENG WiganKelly Shelford NZL AucklandKurt Sherlock AUS Eastern SuburbsSam Stewart Sam Stewart (rugby league) AUS NewcastleWhetu Taewa NZL CanterburyBrent Todd AUS CanberraBrendon Tuuta NZL CanterburyWayne Wallace NZL CanterburyDave Watson Dave Watson (rugby league) NZL AucklandDarrell Williams Darrell Williams (rugby league) AUS Manly-Warringah Schedule and results Date Opponents Score (NZ first) Venue Attendance Notes 1 October St Helens align="center" 26–27 St Helens 6,940 3 October Castleford align="center" 22–20 Castleford 5,963 8 October Wigan align="center" 14–24 Wigan 15,083 11 October Bradford Northern align="center" 26–8 Bradford 3,598 15 October Leeds align="center" 34–4 Leeds 9,218 17 October Cumbria align="center" 28–2 Whitehaven 3,983 21 October GBR align="center" 24–16 Manchester 18,273 28 October GBR align="center" 6–26 Leeds 13,000 1 November Hull align="center" 44–8 Hull 5,898 5 November Widnes align="center" 26–18 Widnes 9,905 7 November Featherstone Rovers align="center" 44–20 Featherstone 2,830 11 November GBR align="center" 6–10 Wigan 20,346 This match counted towards the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup 15 November Midi-Pyrenees XIII align="center" 36–12 Toulouse 1,000 19 November FRA align="center" 16–14 Carcassonne 3,500 22 November Selection de L'Aude align="center" 70–0 Carcassonne 500 25 November France B align="center" 62–4 Albi 1,500 3 December FRA align="center" 34–0 Carcassonne 4,208 This match counted towards the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup Aftermath The tourists were the first New Zealand team to lose a series in Great Britain since 1965.Fletcher Howes 1990 274 Following the conclusion of the tour, many players in the squad signed contracts with English clubs.Fletcher Howes 1990 275 Notes 40em References Kiwis Tour 1989 https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/kiwis-tour-1989/summary.html Rugby League Project Fletcher Raymond Howes David Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91 1990 Queen Anne Press London 978-0-356-17851-6 Category:New Zealand national rugby league team tours Category:Rugby league tours of Great Britain Category:Rugby league tours of France Tour New Zealand tour New Zealand tour