2015 New Zealand rugby league tour of England

New Zealand vs Leeds Rhinos in Game 1 of the tour

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

[edit]

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. Leeds has defeated New Zealand once in eleven matches between the two teams.[3][4]

## Squad

[edit]

### Training squad

[edit]

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 Team | Players

|

Squad named on 8 September[7]

Manly Sea Eagles | Kieran Foran, Peta Hiku
New Zealand Warriors | Solomone Kata, Tui Lolohea, Simon Mannering (c), Ben Matulino, Bodene Thompson
Parramatta Eels | Manu Mau
Penrith Panthers | Lewis Brown, Sam McKendry, Elijah Taylor, Dean Whare
Wests Tigers | Manaia Cherrington, Tim Simona, Martin Taupau

Added on 18 September[8]

South Sydney Rabbitohs | Bryson Goodwin, Issac Luke
St George Illawarra Dragons | Jason Nightingale

Added on 24 September[9]

Canterbury Bulldogs | Curtis Rona, Greg Eastwood
Cronulla Sharks | Gerard Beale, Sosaia Feki
Wests Tigers | Te Maire Martin

Added on 1 October[10]

Melbourne Storm | Jesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor
Sydney Roosters | Matt McIlwrick, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Isaac Liu, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Moa

### Final squad

[edit]

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]

Name | Club | Position(s) | Games | Tries | Goals | FGs | Points

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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]

Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Attendance | Report

|
|
|
|
|
|

23 October | Leeds Rhinos | Headingley, Leeds | Won | 34–16 | 20,158 | [17]
1 November | England | KC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull | Lost | 12–26 | 23,526 | [18]
7 November | England | Olympic Stadium, London | Won | 9–2 | 44,393 | [19]
14 November | England | DW Stadium, Wigan | Lost | 14–20 | 24,741 | [20]

### Game 1

[edit]

2015 (2015) Game 1

| Leeds Rhinos | New Zealand

|

16 | 34
|  | 1| 2 | Total

|
|
|

LEE  | 6| 10 | 16
NZL  | 10| 24 | 34
Date| 23 October 2015
Stadium| Headingley
Location| Leeds, England
Referee|  Richard Silverwood
Attendance| 20,158
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters|

* Premier Sports,[21] Sky Sport 2[22]

Commentators|

* Stuart Pyke
* Iestyn Harris

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'

|  |

|

FB | 1 | Ashton Golding
RW | 2 | Tom Briscoe
RC | 3 | Jimmy Keinhorst
LC | 4 | Joel Moon
LW | 5 | Ash Handley
SO | 6 | Danny McGuire
SH | 7 | Jordan Lilley
PR | 8 | Kylie Leuluai
HK | 9 | Robbie Ward
PR | 10 | Mitch Garbutt
SR | 11 | Adrian Morley
SR | 12 | Josh Walters
LF | 13 | Adam Cuthbertson
Substitutions:
BE | 14 | Ali Lauitiiti
BE | 15 | Anthony Mullally
BE | 16 | Mitch Achurch
BE | 17 | Jordan Baldwinson
BE | 18 | Rob Mulhern
BE | 19 | Brad Singleton
Coach:
Brian McDermott
|  |

|

FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW | 2 | Jason Nightingale
RC | 3 | Jordan Kahu
LC | 4 | Dean Whare
LW | 5 | Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE | 6 | Peta Hiku
HB | 7 | Tuimoala Lolohea
PR | 8 | Jesse Bromwich
HK | 9 | Issac Luke (Captain)
PR | 10 | Ben Matulino
SR | 11 | Kevin Proctor
SR | 12 | Tohu Harris
LK | 13 | Martin Taupau
Substitutions:
BE | 14 | Kodi Nikorima
BE | 15 | Adam Blair (Captain)
BE | 16 | Sam Moa
BE | 17 | Sio Siua Taukeiaho
BE | 18 | Alex Glenn
BE | 20 | Lewis Brown
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

### Test 1

[edit]

2015 (2015) Test 1

| England
| New Zealand

|

26 | 12
|  | 1| 2 | Total

|
|
|

ENG  | 12| 14 | 26
NZL  | 12| 0 | 12
Date| 1 November 2015
Stadium| KC Stadium
Location| Hull, England
Brett Ferres
Referee|  Ben Thaler[23]
Attendance| 23,526
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters|

* BBC Sport,[24] Sky Sport 2[22]

Commentators|

* Dave Woods
* Jonathan Davies
* John Kear

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'

|  |

|

FB | 1 | Zak Hardaker
RW | 2 | Joe Burgess
RC | 3 | Kallum Watkins
LC | 4 | John Bateman
LW | 5 | Ryan Hall
SO | 6 | Gareth Widdop
SH | 7 | George Williams
PR | 8 | James Graham
HK | 9 | Josh Hodgson
PR | 10 | Chris Hill
SR | 11 | Elliott Whitehead
SR | 12 | Liam Farrell
LF | 13 | Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE | 14 | James Roby
BE | 15 | Tom Burgess
BE | 16 | Michael Cooper
BE | 17 | Brett Ferres
Coach:
Steve McNamara
|  |

|

FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW | 2 | Jason Nightingale
RC | 3 | Jordan Kahu
LC | 4 | Dean Whare
LW | 5 | Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE | 6 | Peta Hiku
HB | 7 | Tuimoala Lolohea
PR | 8 | Jesse Bromwich
HK | 9 | Issac Luke (Captain)
PR | 10 | Sam Moa
SR | 11 | Kevin Proctor
SR | 12 | Tohu Harris
LK | 13 | Adam Blair (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE | 14 | Kodi Nikorima
BE | 15 | Martin Taupau
BE | 16 | Ben Matulino
BE | 17 | Sio Siua Taukeiaho
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

### Test 2

[edit]

2015 (2015) Test 2

| England
| New Zealand

|

2 | 9
|  | 1| 2 | Total

|
|
|

ENG  | 2| 0 | 2
NZL  | 2| 7 | 9
Date| 7 November 2015
Stadium| London Olympic Stadium
Location| London, England
Issac Luke
Referee|  Gerard Sutton[23]
Attendance| 44,393
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters|

* BBC Sport,[24] Sky Sport 2[22]

Commentators|

* Dave Woods
* Jonathan Davies
* Brian Noble

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'

|  |

|

FB | 1 | Zak Hardaker
RW | 2 | Joe Burgess
RC | 3 | Kallum Watkins
LC | 4 | John Bateman
LW | 5 | Ryan Hall
SO | 6 | Gareth Widdop
SH | 7 | George Williams
PR | 8 | James Graham
HK | 9 | Josh Hodgson
PR | 10 | Chris Hill
SR | 11 | Elliott Whitehead
SR | 12 | Liam Farrell
LF | 13 | Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE | 14 | James Roby
BE | 15 | Tom Burgess
BE | 16 | Michael Cooper
BE | 17 | Brett Ferres
Coach:
Steve McNamara
|  |

|

FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW | 2 | Jason Nightingale
RC | 3 | Jordan Kahu
LC | 4 | Dean Whare
LW | 5 | Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE | 6 | Peta Hiku
HB | 19 | Kodi Nikorima
PR | 8 | Jesse Bromwich
HK | 9 | Issac Luke (Captain)
PR | 10 | Sam Moa
SR | 11 | Kevin Proctor
SR | 12 | Tohu Harris
LK | 13 | Adam Blair (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE | 14 | Lewis Brown
BE | 15 | Martin Taupau
BE | 16 | Ben Matulino
BE | 17 | Alex Glenn
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

### Test 3

[edit]

2015 (2015) Test 3

| England
| New Zealand

|

20 | 14
|  | 1| 2 | Total

|
|
|

ENG  | 8| 12 | 20
NZL  | 6| 8 | 14
Date| 14 November 2015
Stadium| DW Stadium
Location| Wigan, England
Matty Smith
Referee|  Ben Thaler[27]
Attendance| 24,741
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters|

* BBC Sport,[24] Sky Sport 2[22]

Commentators|

* Dave Woods
* John Kear
* Brian Noble

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'

|  |

|

FB | 1 | Zak Hardaker
RW | 2 | Jermaine McGillvary
RC | 3 | Kallum Watkins
LC | 4 | John Bateman
LW | 5 | Ryan Hall
SO | 6 | Gareth Widdop
SH | 7 | Matty Smith
PR | 8 | James Graham
HK | 9 | Josh Hodgson
PR | 10 | Chris Hill
SR | 11 | Elliott Whitehead
SR | 12 | Liam Farrell
LF | 13 | Sean O'Loughlin (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE | 14 | James Roby
BE | 15 | Tom Burgess
BE | 16 | Michael Cooper
BE | 17 | Brett Ferres
Coach:
Steve McNamara
|  |

|

FB | 1 | Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
RW | 2 | Jason Nightingale
RC | 3 | Jordan Kahu
LC | 4 | Dean Whare
LW | 5 | Shaun Kenny-Dowall
FE | 6 | Peta Hiku
HB | 7 | Kodi Nikorima
PR | 8 | Jesse Bromwich
HK | 9 | Issac Luke (Captain)
PR | 10 | Sam Moa
SR | 11 | Kevin Proctor
SR | 12 | Tohu Harris
LK | 13 | Adam Blair (Captain)
Substitutions:
BE | 14 | Lewis Brown
BE | 15 | Martin Taupau
BE | 16 | Ben Matulino
BE | 17 | Alex Glenn
Coach:
Stephen Kearney

## Aftermath

[edit]

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

[edit]

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. Archived from the original on 2015-10-26. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
17. ^ a b "BBC Sport - New Zealand beat Leeds Rhinos in warm-up before England series". BBC Sport.
18. ^ a b "England claim comeback win over New Zealand in first Test". Sky Sports.
19. ^ a b "New Zealand beat England 9-2 to level Test series". Sky Sports.
20. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d KIWIS Tour of Great Britain - LIVE SKY SPORT 2 skysport.co.nz, 22 October 2015
23. ^ a b "Referees appointed for New Zealand v England Test Series". 21 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
24. ^ a b c "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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