England set to play NZ Maori ahead of Four Nations

New Zealand Maori played before the start of the 2008 World Cup

The NZ Maori players perform their traditional haka

England will face New Zealand Maori in Auckland on 16 October as part of their build-up for the 2010 Four Nations.

The fixture will be a curtain-raiser to New Zealand's own Four Nations warm-up Test against Samoa.

The actual Four Nations will see England pitted against the Kiwis, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

"This game is going to play an important part of our preparations," said recently appointed England coach Steve McNamara.

"We've made slow starts in our last two international tournaments - the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and the Four Nations last year - and this match gives us the opportunity to ensure we hit the ground running."

McNamara confirmed that his full Four Nations squad would feature in the game, including those who will have played in the Super League Grand Final on 2 October.

The match against England will be the Maoris' first international since the New Zealand Rugby League centenary season in 2008.

The team will be made up of players from Super League and the NRL.

"The NZ Maori Rugby League is excited by the opportunity for the Maori team to take the field against England," said New Zealand Maori chairman Howie Tamati.

A NZ Maori Rugby League team first toured overseas in 1908 and played against England in 1910 - the first ever international match in New Zealand by any team.

For many years, the Maori have competed in the Pacific Cup and two years ago played an Australian Indigenous side ahead of the official opening ceremony of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup match in Sydney.

England's preparations will also feature a warm-up game with Cumbria on 3 October, as a fundraiser for the family of former Workington forward Garry Purdham who was one of 12 people killed by gunman Derrick Bird earlier this year.

England's first game of the tournament is against New Zealand on 23 October.

2010 Four Nations fixture schedule:

Saturday 23 October - New Zealand v England (Wellington, 0800 BST)

Sunday 24 October - Australia v Papua New Guinea (Sydney, 0600 GMT)

Saturday 30 October - New Zealand v Papua New Guinea (Rotorua, 0600)

Sunday 31 October - Australia v England, (Melbourne, 0900)

Saturday 6 November - England v Papua New Guinea (Auckland, 0500)

Saturday 6 November - New Zealand v Australia (Auckland, 0715)

Saturday 13 November - Four Nations Final (Brisbane, 0900)