2006 Super 14 season
Encyclopedia
The 2006 Super 14 season started on Friday 10 February 2006. The Grand Final was held on Saturday 27 May 2006. Super 14 is a provincial rugby union
competition with 14 teams from New Zealand
, Australia
and South Africa
. This season was the first of the expansion, which saw two new teams, the Western Force
and the Central Cheetahs
, join the Super 12/14. The addition of two new teams led to the name change from the Super 12. It was also the first year for a new Super 14 trophy
.
At the start of round one, the Crusaders were the favourite to win this year's title 1 with a return of A$
3.25 for every $1 bet. The Blues were second favourite with a return of A$
4.75 for every $1 bet and the Waratahs
were third with a return of A$
5.00 for every $1 bet. The Cats
were favourites for the wooden spoon
. These figures are the final odds.
The season saw the first joint commercial by the three SANZAR
unions since 1996. The commercial was filmed in Ukraine
and is set in a laundrymart. The ad was attempting to draw interest, with the motto More teams, more games and more excitement at the end of the commercial. One player from each of the 14 teams was present, except for the Waratahs. A local extra named "Ouri" filled the role of Mat Rogers
who injured his back in a test match for the Wallabies
against .
By the end of round twelve, critics began speculating that the pre-season favourites, the Crusaders, were losing their form after a draw against the winless Western Force and then a shock loss to the Stormers.http://www.sportal.com.au/union.asp?i=news&id=82042 However they bounced back against the Bulls
with a 4 try bonus point victory. After a few results fell in their favour they were able to comfortably beat the Brumbies, and finished for the second consecutive season on top of the ladder. The Crusaders won the Super 14 after defeating the Hurricanes in Christchurch in the final, 19-12 in misty conditions. There was 94 matches held over three and a half months, with each team playing one full round robin against the 13 other teams and the playoffs involving two semi-finals and a final. Every team got one bye over the 14 rounds.
, who were initially planned to compete in the 2007
and 2008
competitions. However, the South African Rugby Union
(SARU) revisited the decision to admit the Spears, and announced on 19 April 2006 that the Spears would not enter the competition.
On 5 August 2006, the High Court of South Africa
threw a potential monkey wrench into the 2007 season when it issued its ruling in the Spears' legal challenge to the decision. It ruled that the Spears had a valid contract with SA Rugby, the commercial arm of SARU, to be included in the 2007 and 2008 Super 14. SA Rugby and SARU are expected to appeal the decision. If the Spears win their court challenge, the Lions
, the new name for the Cats, will be relegated for 2007 and will play a test match
with the lowest South African team on the 2007 ladder, other than the Spears, for a place in the 2008 competition.
On 8 September 2006, the Golden Lions Rugby Union, the company that operates the Cats franchise, announced that the franchise would be known in the future as the Lions
.
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
Hurricanes
|
15
Isaia Toeava
14
Lome Fa'atau
13
Ma'a Nonu
12
Tana Umaga
11
Shannon Paku
10
David Holwell
9
Piri Weepu
8
Rodney So'oialo
(captain)
7
Chris Masoe
6
Jerry Collins
5
Jason Eaton
4
Paul Tito
3
Neemia Tialata
2
Andrew Hore
1
John Schwalger
Substitutions:
16
Luke Mahoney
17
Joe McDonnell
18
Luke Andrews
19
Thomas Waldrom
20
Brendan Haami
21
Jimmy Gopperth
22
Tamati Ellison
Coach:
New Zealand
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
competition with 14 teams from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. This season was the first of the expansion, which saw two new teams, the Western Force
Western Force
Western Force is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super Rugby competition. They first competed in the 2006 season and finished with the wooden spoon in that year, however their performances greatly improved in 2007. In 2008 they finished in 8th...
and the Central Cheetahs
Central Cheetahs
The Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...
, join the Super 12/14. The addition of two new teams led to the name change from the Super 12. It was also the first year for a new Super 14 trophy
Super 14 Trophy
The Super Rugby Trophy is a sterling silver trophy awarded to the winner of the Super Rugby, a rugby union competition, final. Jens Hansen Gold and Silversmith in Nelson, New Zealand hand made the trophy. The same workshop made the gold ring in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Three...
.
At the start of round one, the Crusaders were the favourite to win this year's title 1 with a return of A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
3.25 for every $1 bet. The Blues were second favourite with a return of A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
4.75 for every $1 bet and the Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
were third with a return of A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
5.00 for every $1 bet. The Cats
Lions (rugby franchise)
The Lions, known as the Cats between the 1998 and 2006 seasons, are a South African rugby union franchise that competes in the Super Rugby competition. From 2011 they are known as the MTNLions for sponsorship reasons. They have not achieved great success in this competition, finishing at the bottom...
were favourites for the wooden spoon
Wooden spoon (award)
A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...
. These figures are the final odds.
The season saw the first joint commercial by the three SANZAR
SANZAR
SANZAR is the body which operates Super Rugby and Tri Nations competitions in rugby union. It is a joint venture of the South African Rugby Union, the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Australian Rugby Union, formed in 1996.Created shortly after rugby's move to professionalism in 1995, SANZAR's two...
unions since 1996. The commercial was filmed in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and is set in a laundrymart. The ad was attempting to draw interest, with the motto More teams, more games and more excitement at the end of the commercial. One player from each of the 14 teams was present, except for the Waratahs. A local extra named "Ouri" filled the role of Mat Rogers
Mat Rogers
Matthew S. "Mat" Rogers is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He also played rugby union at the highest levels, becoming a dual-code international. The son of the late Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks legend and CEO Steve Rogers, Mat played for the Sharks...
who injured his back in a test match for the Wallabies
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
against .
By the end of round twelve, critics began speculating that the pre-season favourites, the Crusaders, were losing their form after a draw against the winless Western Force and then a shock loss to the Stormers.http://www.sportal.com.au/union.asp?i=news&id=82042 However they bounced back against the Bulls
Bulls (rugby franchise)
The Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Bulls, are a South African rugby union team competing in the Super Rugby competition. They are based in Pretoria and play their home matches at Loftus Versfeld...
with a 4 try bonus point victory. After a few results fell in their favour they were able to comfortably beat the Brumbies, and finished for the second consecutive season on top of the ladder. The Crusaders won the Super 14 after defeating the Hurricanes in Christchurch in the final, 19-12 in misty conditions. There was 94 matches held over three and a half months, with each team playing one full round robin against the 13 other teams and the playoffs involving two semi-finals and a final. Every team got one bye over the 14 rounds.
Table
| Top four teams advance to playoffs. |
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crusaders |
13 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 412 | 210 | 202 | 5 | 51 |
| 2 | Hurricanes Hurricanes (Super rugby franchise) The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition... |
13 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 328 | 226 | 102 | 7 | 47 |
| 3 |  WaratahsNew South Wales Waratahs The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition... |
13 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 362 | 192 | 170 | 9 | 45 |
| 4 |  BullsBulls (rugby franchise) The Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Bulls, are a South African rugby union team competing in the Super Rugby competition. They are based in Pretoria and play their home matches at Loftus Versfeld... |
13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 355 | 290 | 65 | 7 | 38 |
| 5 | Sharks Sharks (rugby franchise) The Sharks are a South African rugby union team competing in the Super Rugby competition... |
13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 361 | 297 | 64 | 10 | 38 |
| 6 | Brumbies Brumbies Rugby The Brumbies are a Super 15 rugby union team based in Canberra, Australia and named for the wild horses which inhabit Canberra's hinterland... |
13 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 326 | 269 | 57 | 4 | 38 |
| 7 | Chiefs Chiefs (Super rugby franchise) The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys... |
13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 325 | 298 | 27 | 6 | 36 |
| 8 | Blues |
13 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 290 | 344 | −54 | 5 | 29 |
| 9 | Highlanders |
13 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 228 | 276 | −48 | 3 | 27 |
| 10 | Cheetahs Central Cheetahs The Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State... |
13 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 272 | 367 | −95 | 7 | 27 |
| 11 | Stormers Stormers The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures... |
13 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 263 | 334 | −71 | 5 | 23 |
| 12 | Reds Queensland Reds The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland... |
13 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 240 | 320 | −80 | 6 | 22 |
| 13 | Cats Lions (rugby franchise) The Lions, known as the Cats between the 1998 and 2006 seasons, are a South African rugby union franchise that competes in the Super Rugby competition. From 2011 they are known as the MTNLions for sponsorship reasons. They have not achieved great success in this competition, finishing at the bottom... |
13 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 220 | 405 | −185 | 5 | 15 |
| 14 | Force Western Force Western Force is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super Rugby competition. They first competed in the 2006 season and finished with the wooden spoon in that year, however their performances greatly improved in 2007. In 2008 they finished in 8th... |
13 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 223 | 373 | −150 | 4 | 12 |
South African relegation
Originally, the fifth-place South African side was to be replaced by the SpearsSouthern Spears
The Southern Spears, were a South African rugby union franchise who were originally founded in 2005 and were intended to participate in the Super 14 from 2007 onwards; however, their proposed entry into the competition led to considerable controversy within the country's rugby establishment...
, who were initially planned to compete in the 2007
2007 Super 14 season
The 2007 Super 14 season started in February 2007 with preseason matches held from mid-January. It finished on 19 May with the final at ABSA Stadium in Durban, in the first final between two South African teams in the history of Super Rugby...
and 2008
2008 Super 14 season
The 2008 Super 14 season started in February 2008 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 31 May, when the Crusaders won their seventh Super Rugby title with a 20–12 victory over the Waratahs in front of the Crusaders' home fans. The 2008 season was the third of the expansion,...
competitions. However, the South African Rugby Union
South African Rugby Union
The South African Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in South Africa and is affiliated to the International Rugby Board...
(SARU) revisited the decision to admit the Spears, and announced on 19 April 2006 that the Spears would not enter the competition.
On 5 August 2006, the High Court of South Africa
High Court of South Africa
The High Courts are superior courts of law in South Africa. The courts were created in 1996 on the adoption of the Constitution of South Africa, and inherited the jurisdiction of the provincial and local divisions of the former Supreme Court of South Africa...
threw a potential monkey wrench into the 2007 season when it issued its ruling in the Spears' legal challenge to the decision. It ruled that the Spears had a valid contract with SA Rugby, the commercial arm of SARU, to be included in the 2007 and 2008 Super 14. SA Rugby and SARU are expected to appeal the decision. If the Spears win their court challenge, the Lions
Lions (rugby franchise)
The Lions, known as the Cats between the 1998 and 2006 seasons, are a South African rugby union franchise that competes in the Super Rugby competition. From 2011 they are known as the MTNLions for sponsorship reasons. They have not achieved great success in this competition, finishing at the bottom...
, the new name for the Cats, will be relegated for 2007 and will play a test match
Test match (rugby union)
Test match in rugby union is a match recognised as being a full international match by at least one of the participating teams' governing bodies. It is an unofficial but widely used term in the sport....
with the lowest South African team on the 2007 ladder, other than the Spears, for a place in the 2008 competition.
On 8 September 2006, the Golden Lions Rugby Union, the company that operates the Cats franchise, announced that the franchise would be known in the future as the Lions
Lions (rugby franchise)
The Lions, known as the Cats between the 1998 and 2006 seasons, are a South African rugby union franchise that competes in the Super Rugby competition. From 2011 they are known as the MTNLions for sponsorship reasons. They have not achieved great success in this competition, finishing at the bottom...
.
Leading try scorers
| Top 3 try scorers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Name | Tries | Pld | Team | ||||
| 1 | Lome Fa'atau Lome Fa'atau Lome Fa'atau is a rugby union player. He currently plays for the Rugby Nice Côte d'Azur in the French Fédérale 1. The speedy winger is recognisable by his traditional Samoan tattoo .... |
10 | 15 | Hurricanes Hurricanes (Super rugby franchise) The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition... |
||||
| 2 | Stirling Mortlock Stirling Mortlock Stirling Austin Mortlock is an Australian professional rugby union player. He has scored over 1,000 points in Super Rugby, and nearly 500 test points for the Wallabies. Mortlock is a former Wallaby and Brumbies captain, and the current captain of the Melbourne Rebels.-Early life:Mortlock began... |
9 | 13 | Brumbies Brumbies Rugby The Brumbies are a Super 15 rugby union team based in Canberra, Australia and named for the wild horses which inhabit Canberra's hinterland... |
||||
| 3 | Scott Staniforth Scott Staniforth Scott Nicholas Gelling Staniforth is an Australian rugby union footballer.- Career :Returning to Australia after two years with London Irish, Scott Staniforth was the last player to sign with the Western Force and has played in every match bar one for the new team... |
9 | 13 | Force Western Force Western Force is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super Rugby competition. They first competed in the 2006 season and finished with the wooden spoon in that year, however their performances greatly improved in 2007. In 2008 they finished in 8th... |
||||
Leading point scorers
| Top 3 overall point scorers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Name | Points | Pld | Team | ||||
| 1 | Daniel Carter Daniel Carter (rugby player) Daniel William "Dan" Carter is a New Zealand rugby union player.He is currently the highest points scorer in test match rugby and is regarded as one of rugby's greatest ever fly-halves.-Early life:... |
221 | 14 | Crusaders | ||||
| 2 | Peter Hewat Peter Hewat Peter Hewat is an Australian rugby union player now playing in Japan's Top League for Suntory Sungoliath. He previously played for the NSW Waratahs and London Irish... |
191 | 14 | Waratahs New South Wales Waratahs The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition... |
||||
| 3 | Stephen Donald Stephen Donald Stephen Donald is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays at First five-eighth or Second five-eighth. Despite an international career that had not lived up to expectations, Donald, aka 'The Beaver', kicked the winning penalty in the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 for New Zealand... |
133 | 13 | Chiefs Chiefs (Super rugby franchise) The Chiefs are a professional Rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Their home ground is Waikato Stadium. The Chiefs play in black, red and yellow coloured jerseys... |
||||
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Semi finals
Grand final
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | Crusaders | ||
| 15 | Leon MacDonald Leon MacDonald Leon Raymond MacDonald is a retired New Zealand rugby union footballer, and now assistant coach for the Tasman Makos rugby team, who played 56 tests for the national team, All Blacks. He plays first five-eighths and fullback.-Biography:MacDonald was born in Blenheim, New Zealand, and attended... |
||
| 14 | Rico Gear Rico Gear Rico Levi Gear is a New Zealand rugby union international player. He is a specialist right wing but can also cover midfield positions. He currently plays for Kintetsu Liners in the Top League.... |
||
| 13 | Casey Laulala Casey Laulala Casey Laulala is a New Zealand rugby union player.He attended Woodhouse Grove School in the sixth form on a scholarship.-Career:... |
||
| 12 | Aaron Mauger Aaron Mauger Aaron Joseph Douglas Mauger is a former rugby union player who played at centre for Leicester Tigers. He previously played first five-eighths and second five-eighths for Canterbury , the Crusaders and the New Zealand All Blacks... |
||
| 11 | Scott Hamilton Scott Hamilton (rugby player) Scott Elliot Hamilton is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays for Leicester Tigers in the Guinness Premiership. He previously played for the Crusaders in the Super 14, Canterbury in the New Zealand NPC competition and for his club in North Canterbury Glenmark... |
||
| 10 | Daniel Carter Daniel Carter (rugby player) Daniel William "Dan" Carter is a New Zealand rugby union player.He is currently the highest points scorer in test match rugby and is regarded as one of rugby's greatest ever fly-halves.-Early life:... |
||
| 9 | Kevin Senio Kevin Senio Kevin Senio is a New Zealand rugby union professional who currently plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne. Senio is also a former All Black, making his debut after coming on for Piri Weepu against Australia in New Zealand's 34–24 win in the final match of the 2005 Tri Nations Series and is currently a... |
||
| 8 | Mose Tuiali'i Mose Tuiali'i Mose Tuiali'i is a rugby union player who plays for Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup and for the Crusaders in the Super 14. He plays for Suburbs in the Christchurch premier competition. He has played for the All Blacks between 2004 and 2006 in which he has played 9 tests. His position is No 8... |
||
| 7 | Richie McCaw Richie McCaw Richard Hugh "Richie" McCaw is a New Zealand rugby union player, and is the current test captain. He plays in the openside flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby teams... (captain) |
||
| 6 | Reuben Thorne Reuben Thorne Reuben David Thorne is a New Zealand rugby union player, and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks.-Super 12:... |
||
| 5 | Ross Filipo Ross Filipo Ross Ami Filipo is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who currently plays for London Wasps in the Aviva Premiership.-New Zealand:... |
||
| 4 | Chris Jack Chris Jack Christopher Raymond Jack is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who plays as a lock. He has played for Canterbury and the Tasman Makos in the National Provincial Championship and its successor, the Air New Zealand Cup; the Crusaders in Super Rugby; Saracens in the Guinness Premiership; and... |
||
| 3 | Greg Sommerville | ||
| 2 | Corey Flynn Corey Flynn Corey Flynn is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays in the position of hooker. He was educated at Southland Boys' High School.-Provincial:He played provincial for Southland until he moved to Canterbury in 2003.... |
||
| 1 | Wyatt Crockett Wyatt Crockett Wyatt Crockett is a New Zealand rugby player who plays for the Crusaders in the super 14. He also plays for Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup. He attended Nelson College.He made his All Blacks debut against Italy in 2009.... |
||
| Substitutes: | |||
| 16 | Tone Kopelani | ||
| 17 | Campbell Johnstone Campbell Johnstone Campbell Richard Johnstone is a rugby union player who plays for Biarritz Olympique in the Top 14. He played for the All Blacks in 2005 in which he played 3 tests and made his debut against Fiji and his latest test was against the British and Irish Lions. His position is prop.-External links:*... |
||
| 18 | Johnny Leo'o Johnny Leo'o Johnny Leo'o is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. His usual position is at Flanker. He is 1.85m tall and weighs 100 kg. He played for Canterbury in the NPC and he also represented Crusaders in the Super 14 rugby competition. He played 60 games for Canterbury and 6 games for Bay of Plenty... |
||
| 19 | Tanerau Latimer Tanerau Latimer Tanerau Dylan Latimer is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who plays for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and the Bay of Plenty in the Air New Zealand Cup.-Super Rugby:... |
||
| 20 | Stephen Brett Stephen Brett Stephen Brett is a rugby union player who plays for the Blues in the Super 14 and Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup.-Career:... |
||
| 21 | Cameron McIntyre | ||
| 22 | Caleb Ralph Caleb Ralph Caleb Stan Ralph is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. Ralph began his first-class career with Bay of Plenty, then moved to Auckland before heading to Canterbury. He started his Super Rugby career with the Chiefs in 1997, Blues , Crusaders and a cameo role with the Queensland Reds... |
||
| Coach: | |||
| New Zealand Robbie Deans Robbie Deans Robert Maxwell Deans is the current coach of the Wallabies and former All Black. He is the former coach of the Crusaders. He also served as assistant to former All Blacks coach John Mitchell between late 2001 and 2003... |
|||
Isaia Toeava
Isaia "Ice" Toeava , is a professional rugby union player in New Zealand.-Early career:Toeava attended De La Salle College, Mangere East, he played alongside Taniela Moa in the school's First XV rugby team. He represented New Zealand U-19 where he was named the IRB's Under-19 2005 player of the year...
Lome Fa'atau
Lome Fa'atau is a rugby union player. He currently plays for the Rugby Nice Côte d'Azur in the French Fédérale 1. The speedy winger is recognisable by his traditional Samoan tattoo ....
Ma'a Nonu
Ma'a Allan Nonu is a professional Samoan rugby union player from New Zealand. Nonu plays for the Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup and the New Zealand All Blacks...
Tana Umaga
Jonathan Ionatana Falefasa "Tana" Umaga, ONZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. He played for the Hurricanes starting with the Super 12's inception in 1996 and took over the captaincy in 2003...
Shannon Paku
Shannon Paku is a New Zealand rugby union player, who has played for the Hurricanes in the Super 14 competition, and for the Vodafone Wellington Lions who play in the Air New Zealand Cup....
David Holwell
David Holwell is a rugby union fly half who played for Wellington and Northland in the Air New Zealand Cup, ITM Cup and NPC, and for the Hurricanes and Blues in Super Rugby...
Piri Weepu
Piri Awahou Tihou Weepu is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays scrum-half for the All Blacks on international level, Wellington Lions in the National Provincial Championship and the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby. He first won national honours against Wales in 2004...
Rodney So'oialo
Rodney So'oialo is a New Zealand rugby union player currently playing in Japan for the Honda Heat. Previously, he had been a stalwart for the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby competition, making 101 appearances for the franchise. He also made 62 test appearances for the All Blacks between 2002 and 2009...
(captain)
Chris Masoe
Chris Masoe is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and currently plays for Castres Olympique.-Super 14:...
Jerry Collins
Jerry Collins is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who formerly played for the national team, the All Blacks in which he was capped 48 times. He now plays for Yamaha Jubilo, in Japanese Top league rugby.-Early career:...
Jason Eaton
Jason John Eaton is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays lock.-Early life:Though born in Palmerston North he grew up on a dairy farm near the small community of Colyton.-Career:...
Paul Tito
Paul Tito is a New Zealand rugby union player. His usual position is at lock. He is 1.97m tall and weighs 110 kg. He attended New Plymouth Boys' High School and represented NZ at U19 level in 1997, U21 from 1998–1999 and the NZ Maori in 2000–2001 and 2003...
Neemia Tialata
Neemia Stanley Tialata is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. As well as representing New Zealand, he also plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup when available....
Andrew Hore
For the rugby union coach from New Zealand see Andrew Hore Andrew Hore is a rugby union player who plays for Taranaki in the ITM Cup. He has played for the All Blacks since 2002, in which time he has played 48 tests. His position is hooker...
John Schwalger
John Schwalger is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and plays at prop.-Early life:Schwalger moved to New Zealand after being born in Apia...
Joe McDonnell (rugby player)
Joseph Michael McDonnell born 1 March 1973 in Hastings, New Zealand is a rugby union player who played eight tests for New Zealand. As of 2008 he plays for Newcastle Falcons in the Guinness Premiership and in 2009 he has joined the CR El Salvador....
Thomas Waldrom
Thomas Waldrom is a New Zealand born rugby Number 8 who represents England.His nickname is Thomas the Tank Engine because of his first name and his tank like stature.-Provinces:...
Jimmy Gopperth
James 'Jimmy' Gopperth is a rugby union player who plays for Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership. His position is first five-eighth and he played previously for the Hurricanes and Blues in the Super 14 and the Junior All Blacks...
Tamati Ellison
Tamati Ellison is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who plays for the Ricoh Black Rams in the Japanese Top League competition. His position is utility back. He previously played for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup and Super Rugby for the Hurricanes...
New Zealand