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. Tony Gordon was the coach, while Ian Jenkins and Tom McKeown were appointed as tour managers.
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. Ewe was later sent home early from the tour due to misconduct.
Name Club/District Auckland Auckland Wellington Canterbury-Bankstown Wellington Canterbury (vc) Balmain Newcastle Wigan Newcastle Wellington Auckland Auckland St Helens (c) Eastern Suburbs Bay of Plenty Auckland Auckland Wigan Auckland Eastern Suburbs Newcastle Canterbury Canberra Canterbury Canterbury Auckland Manly-Warringah
Schedule and results Date Opponents Score (NZ first) Venue Attendance Notes 1 October St Helens align="center" St Helens 6,940 3 October Castleford align="center" Castleford 5,963 8 October Wigan align="center" Wigan 15,083 11 October Bradford Northern align="center" Bradford 3,598 15 October Leeds align="center" Leeds 9,218 17 October Cumbria align="center" Whitehaven 3,983 21 October align="center" Manchester 18,273 28 October align="center" Leeds 13,000 1 November Hull align="center" Hull 5,898 5 November Widnes align="center" Widnes 9,905 7 November Featherstone Rovers align="center" Featherstone 2,830 11 November align="center" Wigan 20,346 This match counted towards the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup 15 November Midi-Pyrenees XIII align="center" Toulouse 1,000 19 November align="center" Carcassonne 3,500 22 November Selection de L'Aude align="center" Carcassonne 500 25 November France B align="center" Albi 1,500 3 December align="center" 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.
Following the conclusion of the tour, many players in the squad signed contracts with English clubs.
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