Maori Party welcomes plan for Maori Rugby team to play in South Africa

"It's great news that the South Africans are now working to organise a match between the Maori team and the Springboks" says Te Ururoa Flavell the sports spokesperson for the Maori Party.

"Both sides have a very proud rugby history and I know that Maori and Pakeha rugby fans and Springbok fans too, will be eagerly looking forward to this clash. I'm glad that what a few weeks ago looked like problems which could prevent the match, are now being sorted out."

Mr Flavell says, "If the match is to go ahead, in order for the best possible outcome for the game, the Maori selectors need to be given a free hand to pick the best team they can. Not to do so would be a grave disservice to both countries. The Springboks will be looking for a good conditioning game before they play the Lions. The Maori team has already got the Lions scalp hanging from their belts after they beat them in Hamilton on their last visit here."

"So I can only encourage the people who need to dot the 'i's' and cross the 't's' for this trip to happen - to get on with it and make it happen."

"I'm expecting a good turn-out of supporters to travel from here to the game; and who knows, if it's played in Soweto it could be like a home game for us."

Mr Flavell who is a former Auckland rugby representative and a New Zealand Universities player, says "I'm hoping too that the South African's keeness to host our team will indicate to rugby officials here how valuable the Maori contribution is to the game, and that the Maori team will have regular fixtures on our rugby calender again now and into the future."