Former WHITE FERNS captain Maia Lewis will coach the inaugural New Zealand Māori Secondary Schoolgirls team in 2019/20 when they take the field for the first time early next year.

Following the success of last season’s inaugural New Zealand Māori Secondary Schoolboys team, a New Zealand Māori Schoolgirls team will be selected to play alongside the boys in Wellington in February 2020, NZC announced today.

NZC Network and Participation Advisor Andrew Tara said, “Last season’s New Zealand Māori Schoolboys match was really well received, so naturally we wanted to expand this initiative to also include a girls team.

“The opportunity to learn more about Māori culture, including the chance to stay in a local marae, were highlights of last season’s initiative [which saw Ruben Love, Joel Lavender, Joel Clark, Bailey McDonald and Mitchell Williams-North all named in the national side from schools in the CD region] and we're looking forward to more of these cultural experiences this season.”

An opposition for the matches in Wellington will be confirmed in the forhcoming season, but Mr Tara said initial conversations with the Governor General’s office have been very positive and the matches will be played in the week surrounding the BLACKCAPS' first Test against India.

TEAM SELECTION PROCESS

• New Zealand Māori School teams

Selection to both the New Zealand Māori Schoolboys and Schoolgirls teams will take place through formal nomination processes. NZC will also have selectors at national tournaments: the Gillette Cup and Gillette Venus Cup, Under 17 and U19 national tournaments.

Players selected in the NZ Māori Secondary School teams must be enrolled in a NZ secondary school in 2020.

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Article added: Thursday 12 September 2019