| Governing body | New Zealand Rugby League |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Brent Stuart |
The New Zealand Residents (also previously known as New Zealand 'A', New Zealand XIII, the Lion Red Cup XIII and currently known as the Bartercard Premiership Selection) are a New Zealand rugby league football representative side that is selected from players competing in domestic competitions.
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In 1977 Dane Sorensen became the first New Zealander to be selected for the New Zealand Kiwis while based overseas.[1] Before this date all New Zealand national sides were made up of residents. In 1993 the first Kiwis team took the field that was made up entirely of overseas based players and, since 1994, no domestic based players have been selected for the national side (with the exception of New Zealand/Auckland Warriors players).[1]
In 1994, then Kiwi coach Frank Endacott led a New Zealand Residents side on a tour of Australia.
In 1996 New Zealand XIII participated in the Pacific Challenge and, as the Lion Red Cup XIII, drew in a match against the touring Great Britain side and defeated the touring Papua New Guinea side.[2][3][4]
New Zealand XIII competed in the 1997 Oceania Cup, defeating New Zealand Māori in the final. In 1998 a Residents XIII lost two matches to the Auckland Warriors.[5]
New Zealand 'A', coached by Gary Kemble, toured the United States and France in 2002 and, led by Ged Stokes, Great Britain in 2003.[6][7] These two touring sides featured many players who would go on to have professional careers, including George Carmont, David Fa'alogo, Fuifui Moimoi, Tevita Latu, Phillip Leuluai and Hutch Maiava.[8][9]
Since then team has reverted to being known as the New Zealand Residents, with a New Zealand 'A' taking the field in 2006 made up of overseas based professional players.[10]
In 2006 the New Zealand Residents, coached by David Lomax, competed in a Trans Tasman Quadrangular Series against the Queensland Residents, New South Wales Country and a Jim Beam Cup selection.[11] The Residents won this series.[12] The Residents then played the New Zealand Kiwis in a warm up match for the 2006 Tri-Nations. The senior side won 34-4.
The Residents have also competed in the World Sevens.
In 2009 the Bartercard Premiership Selection played against a touring Samoan Residents side and defeated them 62-14 on 10 October 2009.[13][14] It is hoped that a Residents match against a Pacific side will become an annual fixture.[15] The side wore black and white hoops. Canterbury coach Brent Stuart coached the Bartercard selection.[16]
Team: 1-Jonny Aranga (Cant), 2-Junior Salevao (Cant), 3-Craig Smith (Cant), 4-Gunther Schaumkel (Auck), 5-James Blackwell (Auck), 6-William Heta (Auck), 7-Kelvin Wright (Auck), 8-Vince Whare (Auck), 9-Nathan Sherlock (Cant), 10-Fred Turuwhenua (Auck), 11-Chris Bamford (Cant), 12-Sialli Tufeao (Auck), 13-Jonny Limmer (Cant).
Interchange: 14-Dylan Davis (Auck), 15-Patrick Matulino (Auck), 16-Sione Tongia (Auck), 17-Suaia Matagi (Auck), 18-Darren Kingi (Waikato).
Coach: Brent Stuart.[17]