Sky and Whakaata Māori to broadcast Māori All Blacks matches » allblacks.com

Both matches will be simulcast on Sky and Whakaata Māori.

The June 29 match will be presented live with English match commentary on Sky Sport 1 and te reo Māori match commentary live on Sky Sport 2 and also live on Whakaata Māori.

The next match on July 6 will have English commentary on Sky Sport 2, and te reo Māori commentary on Sky Sport 3 and Whakaata Māori.

Sky Open offers free delayed coverage of both matches.

Julian Wilcox (Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa) will provide pre-match, half-time and post-match analysis, along with former Māori All Blacks halfback Bryn Hall (Ngāti Ranginui) and Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Awa) about Sky and Whakaata Māori.

Tony Johnson and Bryn Hall will call the matches in English, while Tūmamao Harawira (Ngāpuhi) and Te Aorere Pēwhairangi (Ngāti Porou) will provide te reo Māori commentary.

Whakaata Māori Kaihautū Shane Taurima (Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu) says the Māori All Blacks are a source of pride for Aotearoa New Zealand.

“The Māori All Blacks and previous Māori national rugby teams have brought our culture, our reo and a unique style of rugby around the world since their inception.”

“From the great George Nepia, known for his kicks and tackles in the 1930s to the prowess of one of Aotearoa’s best halfbacks, the late Sid Going in the 1960s and 1970s, the Māori All Blacks continue to inspire future generations of rugby players. We are very proud to be co-broadcasting Māori All Blacks Vs Japan on our Whakaata Māori platforms,” he says.

Jonny Errington, Sky’s Chief Content and Commercial Officer, says the team is excited to be working together to extend the reach of these test matches.

“We are very happy to be working with Whakaata Māori to bring te reo Māori to audiences across Aotearoa for these two matches.

“Building on the success of our te reo Māori commentary at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where more than 71,000 New Zealanders tuned in to our te reo broadcast, it is our hope and ambition to welcome new audiences to this Maori All Blacks matches by sharing them on Whakaata MAori.

“I can’t think of a better time than Matariki to recognize the history of both organizations. We look forward to finding more ways to work together in the future to normalize te reo, tikanga and Māori leadership on air.”

Māori All Blacks Head Coach Ross Filipo (Muaūpoko) says they are very grateful for this partnership between Sky and Whakaata Māori.

“Additional coverage, including free-to-air, gives all fans and whānau the opportunity to support us while we are away from home. We are incredibly proud to represent our culture. This partnership will increase the visibility of Māori and rugby and inspire future generations.”

Scheme:

Heaven opened

June 28, 6:00 am: Manawatia a Matariki (simulcast on Sky Open, Whakaata Māori, TVNZ 1, TVNZ+, Three, RNZ and Iwi radio)

Sky sports

June 29, 10 p.m.: Māori All Blacks v Japan, Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo

July 6, 9 p.m.: Māori All Blacks v Japan, Toyota Stadium, Toyota

Whakaata Māori, Māori+

June 28, 6:00 am: Manawatia a Matariki (simulcast on Sky Open, Whakaata Māori, TVNZ 1, TVNZ+, Three, RNZ and Iwi radio)

June 29, 10 p.m.: Māori All Blacks v Japan, Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo

July 6, 9 p.m.: Māori All Blacks v Japan, Toyota Stadium, Toyota