Kevin Tamati
Encyclopedia
Kevin Ronald Tamati is a New Zealander
former professional rugby league
footballer and coach who played for his country and played professionally for Widnes
and Warrington
in the Forwards. He is the cousin of fellow international Howie Tamati
.
in 1973.
A Wellington representative, Tamati made a name for himself as a tough player. He moved to England in 1982 and had success with both Widnes
and Warrington
.
During the 1984 season Tamati played on Saturday for the Northcote Tigers
in the Auckland Rugby League
competition and then flew down to Wellington on Sundays to play for the Randwick Kingfishers. During this season Tamati also represented Auckland
.
’ 19-6 victory over Wigan
in the 1983–84 Challenge Cup
final at Wembley Stadium on the 5th May 1984.
's 38-10 victory over Halifax
in the 1985–86 Rugby League Premiership
final at Elland Road
, Leeds
on the 18th May 1986.
which continued on the sideline after both players had been sent off.
Tamati won caps for New Zealand
in 1979 against Great Britain (3 matches), in 1980 against Australia (2 matches), and Great Britain (3 matches), and France (2 matches), in 1981 against France, while at Widnes in 1982 against Australia (2 matches), and Papua New Guinea, in 1984 against Great Britain, in 1985 against Australia (2 matches), in 1985 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, in 1985 against Great Britain (sub), and in 1985 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Great Britain. In total Tamati playing in 37 games for the Kiwis, including 29 test matches.
from 1989 until 1993.
Tamati was employed as a rugby league development officer with Warrington Borough Council
for nine years during the 1980s and '90s. He left in 1997 to take up a fulltime position coaching the Lancashire Lynx
. Tamati had previously been coaching Chorley Borough
part time but the clubs re-birth as the Lancashire Lynx prompted him to take up the roll fulltime. Tamati was released by Lynx at end of the 1998 season, after failing to agree a new contract.
Tamati then began a two year spell coaching the Whitehaven
.
In 2006 Tamati was coach of the New Zealand Māori rugby league team
.
Legends of League in 1995. He is an Auckland Rugby League
Immortal.
Tamati is currently the Rugby League referee coordinator for the Hawkes Bay Rugby League.
New Zealanders
New Zealanders, colloquially known as Kiwis, are citizens of New Zealand. New Zealand is a multiethnic society, and home to people of many different national origins...
former professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer and coach who played for his country and played professionally for Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
and Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
in the Forwards. He is the cousin of fellow international Howie Tamati
Howie Tamati
Howard Kevin Tamati, MBE, is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer and coach who played for his country. He is the cousin of fellow international Kevin Tamati.-Playing career:Tamati played for Wigan between 1983 and 1984...
.
Playing career
After moving to Wellington in 1971 Tamati took up rugby league, joining the Petone Panthers club. He later played for the Upper Hutt Tigers and the Randwick Kingfishers. He made the Junior KiwisJunior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
in 1973.
A Wellington representative, Tamati made a name for himself as a tough player. He moved to England in 1982 and had success with both Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
and Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
.
During the 1984 season Tamati played on Saturday for the Northcote Tigers
Northcote Tigers
The Northcote Tigers are a rugby league club based in Northcote, New Zealand. The club was founded in 1910 as the Northcote Warriors.The Tigers compete in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. Between 2000 and 2002 the Northcote Tigers competed in the national Bartercard...
in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition and then flew down to Wellington on Sundays to play for the Randwick Kingfishers. During this season Tamati also represented Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
.
Challenge Cup final appearance
Kevin Tamati played in WidnesWidnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
’ 19-6 victory over Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
in the 1983–84 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final at Wembley Stadium on the 5th May 1984.
Rugby League Premiership final appearances
Kevin Tamati played in WarringtonWarrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
's 38-10 victory over Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
in the 1985–86 Rugby League Premiership
Rugby League Premiership
The Rugby League Premiership was a competition for British rugby league clubs that operated between 1973 and 1995. As the Super League Premiership the competition continued to operate until 1997....
final at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
on the 18th May 1986.
Representative career
A Wellington representative and New Zealand international, Tamati played 52 times for Wellington and for the Kiwis from 1979 until 1985. He is perhaps best known for his fight with Greg DowlingGreg Dowling
Gregory Dowling is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He represented both Australia and Queensland....
which continued on the sideline after both players had been sent off.
Tamati won caps for New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in 1979 against Great Britain (3 matches), in 1980 against Australia (2 matches), and Great Britain (3 matches), and France (2 matches), in 1981 against France, while at Widnes in 1982 against Australia (2 matches), and Papua New Guinea, in 1984 against Great Britain, in 1985 against Australia (2 matches), in 1985 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Australia, in 1985 against Great Britain (sub), and in 1985 in the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup against Great Britain. In total Tamati playing in 37 games for the Kiwis, including 29 test matches.
Coaching career
Tamati coached the SalfordSalford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
from 1989 until 1993.
Tamati was employed as a rugby league development officer with Warrington Borough Council
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
for nine years during the 1980s and '90s. He left in 1997 to take up a fulltime position coaching the Lancashire Lynx
Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool & The Fylde Panthers RLFC was an English professional rugby league club based in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. They played at Woodlands Memorial Ground owned by Fylde rugby union club...
. Tamati had previously been coaching Chorley Borough
Chorley Borough
Chorley Borough was the name of two different rugby league teams which played at Chorley, Lancashire.* Blackpool Borough played as Chorley Borough in the 1988-1989 season....
part time but the clubs re-birth as the Lancashire Lynx prompted him to take up the roll fulltime. Tamati was released by Lynx at end of the 1998 season, after failing to agree a new contract.
Tamati then began a two year spell coaching the Whitehaven
Whitehaven RLFC
Whitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
.
In 2006 Tamati was coach of the New Zealand Māori rugby league team
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
.
Later years
Tamati was inducted into the New Zealand Rugby LeagueNew Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
Legends of League in 1995. He is an Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
Immortal.
Tamati is currently the Rugby League referee coordinator for the Hawkes Bay Rugby League.