HomeCollectionDeaf Rugby in New Zealand

New Zealand loves its rugby, and the Deaf community is no exception. Rugby has played a significant role in the New Zealand Deaf community, not only for the basics such as fitness and discipline, but also a chance to bond as a Deaf team. Rugby has also given the chance to many youths who may be entering the Deaf community for the first time, to find a connection and place to belong. The Deaf rugby battlefield has seen many epic regional and international clashes, and the rivalries are intense right up to the final whistle!

  • Deaf Sports

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1995
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Deaf Blacks’ first ever international match

Holmes’ Jo Malcolm catches up with the Deaf Blacks team at their training in Christchurch in preparation for the first of three upcoming test matches against the visiting Deaf South Africans - the first ever international match for both sides.
Television New Zealand Archive
NZSL Stories
  • Richard Hay
  • Kevin Pivac
2000
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Signed Rugby Ball: Deaf Blacks, 2000

Manawatu Deaf Society
2000
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Team Photo: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union, Womens 7-a-side Championship Tournament, 2000

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
1970
video – Taonga source: Pam and Doug Croskery

Deaf social rugby match: Married vs Single men

An informal annual rugby game between teams of Deaf men, married and single, which was played on one of Kelston Deaf Education Centre’s fields.
Pam and Doug Croskery
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
2001
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Team Photo: Central Zone Rugby Union, 2001

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
2005
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Team Photo: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union Representatives, 2005

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
2002
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Plaque: New Zealand Deaf Rugby – In Appreciation, Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
2005
video – Taonga source: AUT Visual Languages Section

Toa Anga Whati Māori

Māori TV's 'Toa Anga Whati Māori' profiles the Deaf Association of New Zealand on its weekly program, interviewing a series of Deaf people in sports (golf, touch rugby, rugby) before touching upon the job of a Deaf Awareness Officer who delivers training throughout New Zealand.
AUT Visual Languages Section
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
Est. 1998
Object – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union: Player of the Year

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
2016
video – Taonga source: Attitude Pictures

Deaf Sport: Playing Deaf Rugby

A compressed version of a three-part series about the Marlins, Auckland’s Deaf rugby team. The guys are followed on and off the field and in the run up to the biggest game of the season.
Attitude Pictures
1994
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Team Photo: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Football Union, Winners of First Fifteen National Championship, April 1994

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
2008
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Team Photo: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union, Winners 15th National Deaf Rugby Inter-Zonal Championship, 2008

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
2002
Object – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Signed Rugby Ball: Deaf Blacks, 2002

Manawatu Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
2002
video – Taonga source: Inside Out

Inside Out: Inaugural World Deaf Rugby Championship

Inside Out features the inaugural World Deaf Rugby Championship, including coverage of the final between New Zealand and Wales at Eden Park, Auckland in 2002.
Inside Out
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
2000
video – Taonga source: Hilda Tamepo

Memories of John McRae

John McRae is filmed at his home in Napier where he lived with his wife Verna. John explains some highlights from his life story including his experiences at school, travelling the world for Deaf sports, and his involvement in the Deaf community. The video includes his commentary of various photos and objects in their house.
Hilda Tamepo
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Milton Reedy
  • Patreena Bryan
  • Doug Croskery
1998
video – Taonga source: Kevin and Lynette Pivac

NZ Deaf Rugby Team in Wales

See Hear reports on the New Zealand Deaf Rugby team’s tour of the UK in 1998.
Kevin and Lynette Pivac
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
2008
Object – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Banner: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union, Winners 2008, National Deaf Rugby Inter-Zonal Championships

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
2011
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Team Photo: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union, 18th National Deaf Rugby Inter-Zonal Championships, 2011

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
1969
article – Taonga source: John McRae

Cheering out for deaf

Most of these taking part in the sports convention last weekend live in a silvent world constantly. Yet no observer could have mistaken the enjoyment the spectators at the badminton expressed in their conversation, using signs and movements of their arms, hands and lips.
John McRae
NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
1999
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Autumn 1999

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1995
Images – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf Rugby

Team Photo: New Zealand Deaf Rugby Football Union, New Zealand v South Africa, 1995

New Zealand Deaf Rugby
NZSL Stories
  • Richard Hay
  • Kevin Pivac
2002
video – Taonga source: Kevin and Lynette Pivac

Extended version: Deaf Rugby World Cup final – New Zealand vs Wales

Extended version: New Zealand play Wales in the Deaf Rugby World Championship final at Eden Park, Auckland in 2002.
Kevin and Lynette Pivac
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
2016
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Team Photo: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union, 23rd National Deaf Rugby Championship, 2016

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Winter 1968 (Vol. 5, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • John Hunt
1995
video – Taonga source: Richard Peri

Second test: New Zealand Deaf vs South Africa

The first ever International Deaf Rugby Test Series was held in New Zealand in 1995 between New Zealand and South Africa. South Africa won the series 2-1.
Richard Peri
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • Richard Hay
2000
video – Taonga source: Rodney Roberts

First National Deaf Womens’ Sevens Tournament

On an Easter Friday afternoon, 22 April 2000, for the first time in history the National Deaf Women’s Seven Tournament was played between the Southern and Central teams at the Canterbury Rugby League Stadium.
Rodney Roberts
2002
video – Taonga source: Zena Hughes

Third national Deaf Womens’ Sevens Tournament

The Northern Deaf womens’ team wins the third sevens tournament, comfortably beats Central 60-0 and Southern 34-0. Southern beats Central 34-5.
Zena Hughes
1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: September 1995

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
2007
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Team Photo: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union, 14th National Deaf Inter-Zonal Championship Winners, 2007

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
1994
Images – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Team Photo: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Football Union, Winners of National Deaf Seven Championship, 1994

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
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