Rugby: Royal raring to go for Maori ABs

Bay of Plenty hooker Joe Royal leads the Maori All Blacks haka against USA last year.

When Joe Royal first made the Maori All Blacks in 2013, he told the Bay of Plenty Times he "would rather play for the Maori All Blacks than the All Blacks".

Nothing has changed for the 30-year-old Rotoiti and Bay of Plenty Steamers hooker, as he prepares for his third consecutive year representing his iwi of Te Arawa/Ngati Whatua o Orakei/Ngapuhi.

"It is every childhood dream to play for the All Blacks but I hold this jersey just as high," Royal said.

"I am playing for my culture, for my people. You get a buzz still hearing your name called out.

"It is three years in a row and I am just as stoked and excited as the first time.

"It was definitely a surprise to get selected after not playing any Super Rugby and looking at the team, the majority of the boys have played at that level. I just can't wait to get back into camp with all the boys again."

Hawke's Bay's Ash Dixon and Quentin MacDonald from Tasman stand in Royal's way to get game time for the Maori All Blacks, against Fiji and the NZ Barbarians this month.

"Both Ash and Quentin are top players and top blokes. I guess when we assemble and get into camp, I need to show leadership and train hard, show Coops (coach Colin Cooper) that I am ready to play. Put my hand up and say I am one of the top two hookers in Maori rugby."

It is baffling how Royal was not considered good enough to gain a Super Rugby contract, after the form he showed for the Steamers and Maori All Blacks over the last two seasons.

"I thought coming off a good season last year with the Bay that there might have been some involvement at Super Rugby," Royal said.

"Hopefully on the back of this Maoris tour and a good campaign with the Steamers, I can put my best foot forward for Super Rugby next year. I don't care who it is with."

Once his commitment with the Maori All Blacks is over, helping the Steamers do well in this ITM Cup season is Royal's major priority.

"Obviously, we have had two poor seasons and we players were disappointed. It does hurt. We want to put some mana back in the jersey, put some faith back in our supporters and our region.

"We want to put Bay of Plenty back on the New Zealand rugby map."