Rugby legend Norm Hewitt, who played for the Maori side for over a decade, says a touring Maori rugby team is well overdue.
Maori Rugby Board chairperson Wayne Peters has confirmed it's very likely the team will tour, but no details can be released yet.
Mr Hewitt says he's pleased the New Zealand Rugby Union is taking the team seriously enough to consider a tour.
He says Maori rugby has been a contentious issue in the past, as the rugby union and the rugby fraternity haven't agreed on the merits of a race-based team.
Mr Hewitt says the Maori team has a huge amount of history behind it and adds a strong cultural aspect to the game.
