Player Kevin Iro

[mt.wellington]

Kevin Iro

​

Kevin Leslie Iro (born 24 May 1968), also known by the nickname of '"The Beast", is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, and coached in the 2000s. He played at representative level for New Zealand, Cook Islands, Auckland and Rest of the World, and at club level for Mount Albert, Manly-Warringah, Hunter Mariners and the Auckland Warriors, and in England for Wigan (Heritage № 838), Leeds and St. Helens (Heritage № 1090), as a wing, centre or stand-off, playing in Challenge Cup finals for all three English teams, and coached at representative level for Cook Islands.

Iro was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He is of Cook Islanders descent.

Iro is the younger brother of fellow New Zealand rugby league international Tony Iro. He is the father of Kayal Iro

As a junior, he played for the Glen Innes Falcons, a feeder club to Ellerslie during the 1980s. Kevin Iro played at centre, and scored two tries and three conversions in Wigan's 22–17 victory over Salford in the 1988 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1988–89 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 23 October 1988, Kevin Iro played at centre and scored a try in Wigan's 12–6 victory over Widnes in the 1988–89 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1988–89 season at Burnden Park, Bolton on Saturday 7 January 1989, and played at centre in the 12–6 victory over Widnes in the 1989–90 Regal Trophy Final during the 1989–90 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 13 January 1990. He was St. Helens' lone try-scorer in their 1999 Super League Grand Final victory over Bradford Bulls. Having won the 1999 Championship, St. Helens contested in the 2000 World Club Challenge against National Rugby League Premiers the Melbourne Storm, with Iro playing at Centre in the loss. Iro played for St. Helens at Centre in their 2000 Super League Grand Final victory over Wigan Warriors. As Super League V champions, St. Helens played against 2000 NRL Premiers, the Brisbane Broncos in the 2001 World Club Challenge. Iro played at centre in St. Helens' victory.

In 2006 Iro coached the Cook Islands national rugby league team in a three match series against the New Zealand Māori side. In the third and deciding match Iro came out of retirement, scoring two tries in a 32–4 victory. He also represented the Cook Islands at the 2006 Commonwealth Games playing rugby sevens.

Kevin Iro - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Kiwi international (34 Tests, 1987-98) was surprisingly ineffective during two seasons with Manly under his former Wigan coach Graham Lowe. Kevin Iro, who had played with Wigan from 1987-91 and Leeds from 1992-97, also made little impact in the Hunter Mariners’ sole season in Super League and returned to NZ to play with Auckland. In 2000, after playing for St Helens, Iro captained the Cook Islands in the World Cup.

- ALAN WHITICKER​

Kevin Iro - Playing Career - RLP

A summary of the career stats for Kiwi international (34 Tests, 1987-98) was surprisingly ineffective during two seasons with Manly under his former Wigan coach Graham Lowe. Kevin Iro, who had played with Wigan from 1987-91 and Leeds from 1992-97, also made little impact in the Hunter Mariners’...

www.rugbyleagueproject.org

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Wow he was a giant in those days. How things have changed. I enjoyed him at his destructive best.

 

[mt.wellington]

Wow he was a giant in those days. How things have changed. I enjoyed him at his destructive best.

The OG Beast. Who can forget his Kiwis debut with Jarrod McCracken. Two players that made me fall in love with this game at a young age...

 

[run_it_str8_again]

The OG Beast. Who can forget his Kiwis debut with Jarrod McCracken. Two players that made me fall in love with this game at a young age...

Yip he was awesome to watch. Shame about McCrackens neck injury

 

[Cces]

 

[kos]

Darn
I was on a work social outing with his aunty on the Gc today
If I had shown her this it would have made her day

 

[mt.wellington]

#51 Kevin Iro​

Kevin lives in Cook Islands and works as Marae Moana Ambassador. He is also still heavily involved with local and Cook Island National Rugby League...

League legend Kevin Iro behind world's largest marine park in Cook Islands' exclusive zone​

Kelvin McDonald Whakaata Māori
19 Sep, 2022 12:00 PM

LIfe's a beach for former league star Kevin Iro. Photo / Whakaata Māori

Former Kiwis league star Kevin Iro has won a prestigious Seacology prize which honours exceptional achievement in preserving island environments and culture.

Iro, who has Cook Islands whakapapa and lives there with his whānau, has been recognised for creating the largest multi-use marine park in the world, Marae Moana. It extends over the entire exclusive economic zone of the Cook Islands, an area of 1.9 million square kilometres, the Marae Moana website says.

Iro grew up in Auckland and says that from the age of 7 or 8 his whānau started going to the Cook Islands for the school holidays and he "fell in love with the place".

"I moved back with my family, I noticed the change," Iro told non-profit environmental organisation Conservation International.

"When I was young the lagoon was just vibrant. There were so many colours, all the coral was alive.

"As the years went by, I'd say to my family 'there's something wrong out there'."

Iro came up with the marine park concept about two or three years ago. He says the Pacific accounts for 60 per cent of the world's tuna catch and this is having a major impact.

"Our small fishermen, their catches over the last 20 years have gone from quite substantial catches to virtually none. The Cook Islands marine park can make those stocks grow."

With Marae Moana, the aim is to be inclusive and "bring in every person that has anything to do with the ocean," he says.

Conservation International has come on board as a key partner and scientists, local leaders and the community are all involved.

"We're looking at a zone approach, whether they be no-fishing zones, commercial fishing zones, zones for tourism activity."

Iro says they want to use the internet and social media in "a big way" and make it an "open source" marine park.

"People from around the world can play an interactive part in seeing where fishing vessels are fishing."

Iro has every belief Moana Marae will succeed.

"I'm an optimist, I'm positive it's going to work. I think the idea is going to spread through the Pacific," he says.

The Beast Kevin Iro wins conservation recognition for creating world first multi-use marine park

Kevin Iro was known as The Beast - now he's using that to ensure marine conservation.

www.nzherald.co.nz