The Kiwis Are Coming!

2008-07-10

The Auckland Metro Police Rugby League Team from New Zealand are soon to embark on a tour to the East Coast of the USA bringing with them a 50 strong tour party of players and supporters.

Accompanying the Police Team from NZ will be Rugby League Legend (former Melbourne Storm, Castleford & Kiwi player) Tawera Nikau. As well as recently retired NZ Warriror Tony Tatupu (5 seasons NRL 4 matches Kiwis)

On August 11th they begin the first of their 4 game tour in Jacksonville Florida against the famed Jacksonville Axemen playing at UNF’s Hodges Stadium.

From Jacksonville they head to the Nation’s capitol where they take on the Washington DC Slayers at Memorial field on Saturday 16th. In 2006 the Police side lost 3 players in what was described as a very physical encounter against the Slayers.

After leaving DC they travel to New Haven, Connecticut where they are awaiting confirmation of who exactly they will be playing – depending on the outcome of the semi-final playoffs. It is expected that they will play on Wednesday, August 20th at the Boulevard Field in New Haven.

Finally they head to New York and have been invited to play the curtain-raiser to the AMNRL Grand Final, being held this year at Fort Dix, New Jersey on Saturday the 23rd of August. Kick off for that game is expected to at 2pm followed by the Grand Final at 4pm and then aftermatch celebrations.

The Kiwis promise to entertain on the field and including a rousing haka before kick off.

Auckland Police Rugby League Chairman Tony Feasey would like to take this opportunity to thank each of the respective AMNRL Clubs for their kind invitations and the the President of the AMNRL David Niu for allowing the tour to go ahead.

New Zealand Police Rugby League are the only rugby league playing nation / team to tour the USA twice within 2 years and believe that this can only be beneficial to the game of rugby league It gives the guys who are playing Club Football experience against a rugby league playing nation rather than just the elite who make the representative teams. Not to mention the kiwi guys enjoy the fantastic hospitality shown by all the locals they meet in the respective cities they tour.

For more check out their website http://www.policerugbyleague.co.nz.