Paper short abstract:

Favored by the romanticized view of the Māori warrior/rugby player, the global mobility of male Māori rugby players mirrors and complicates their pursuit of recognition as indigenous men and socioeconomic inclusion, and impacts on their communities, generating ambivalent experiences and opinions.

Paper long abstract:

Portrayed as the incarnation of their ancient warrior tradition, Māori rugby has acquired an international reputation in the professional era of the sport. It has opened up overseas opportunities, particularly in Europe, for the many Māori men who view rugby as the expression of an indigenous masculinity, and a place where they can achieve, but do not always find a space in New Zealand rugby. Similarly to what occurs in New Zealand, Māori view overseas rugby achievements as contributing to their recognition as indigenous people, and the socioeconomic inclusion of Māori men. Concurrently, some Māori fear that players moving overseas become distanced from their communities and that concepts like wealth replace the values ideally associated with Māori rugby like the notion of mana (spiritual prestige). Some players instead experience disappointment and distress, for their communities' absence or playing in areas where rugby is not highly considered might engender the feeling that their prestige as Māori men is not recognized. Overseas, Māori might also enjoy coaching opportunities, which are usually precluded at home because of stereotypes, such as lack of discipline and technicality. However, the international popularity of a romanticized interpretation of the Māori warrior reinforces a process reducing Māori men to a body. The transnational mobility of Māori rugby men thus contributes to the exploration of contemporary contested aspirations in a globalised world, and the observation of changing kinship structures, while advancing the analysis of the way sport and gender mingle with notions of belonging, citizenship, and global condition.