2 Jun 2010

Kiiws to play Samoa

10:26 am on 2 June 2010

The Kiwis and Samoa will create rugby league history when they clash in a Test for the first time on Saturday, October 16 at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

The New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Jim Doyle says the match is a vital build-up fixture before the Kiwis kick off their 2010 Four Nations campaign against England in Wellington on October 23.

The Kiwis played warm-up internationals against Tonga in Auckland two years ago and in Rotorua last yea,.

Doyle says the NZRL is committed to building much stronger ties with Pacific nations and because it's taken a long time for the Kiwis and Samoa to meet in a Test it will be a very special fixture.

Samoa has been playing rugby league Internationals since 1988 and has met the New Zealand Maori several times.