Brendon Leonard
Encyclopedia
Brendon Leonard is a New Zealand
rugby union
footballer.
in the 2005 National Provincial Championship
. He was in the Chiefs
wider training group for the 2006 Super 14. After playing for Waikato in their championship winning 2006 Air New Zealand Cup
side, Leonard was selected for the Chiefs in the 2007 Super 14. Leonard had a successful Super 14 where he played for Byron Kelleher
who missed the first seven rounds of the competition to participate in the All Blacks
reconditioning programme. Following the 2007 Super 14 he was selected for the All Blacks squad for the 2007 mid-year Tests
and 2007 Tri-Nations
. He was one of only two uncapped players named in the squad, and All Blacks coach Graham Henry
said of Leonard's selection "Brendon [Leonard] has been the best attacking scrum-half in the Super 14 this season and has forced his way into the side based on form." He made his Test debut against France at Eden Park on 2 June 2007. He came on as a substitute for Piri Weepu
in the 64th minute of the All Blacks 42-11 victory. He then scored his first Test try against South Africa
on 14 July 2007.
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...
rugby union
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...
footballer.
Career
Leonard plays half-back and made his provincial debut for WaikatoWaikato Rugby Union
The Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Its senior representative team competes in the ITM Cup , and won the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.Waikato Rugby Union was founded in 1921...
in the 2005 National Provincial Championship
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
. He was in the 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...
wider training group for the 2006 Super 14. After playing for Waikato in their championship winning 2006 Air New Zealand Cup
2006 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2006 Air New Zealand Cup is a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Friday 28 July 2006, and the Grand Final was won by Waikato on 21 October 2006....
side, Leonard was selected for the Chiefs in the 2007 Super 14. Leonard had a successful Super 14 where he played for Byron Kelleher
Byron Kelleher
Byron Terrance Kelleher is a rugby union half-back who currently plays for Stade Francais in the French Top 14 competition, and has played over 57 tests with the New Zealand All Blacks...
who missed the first seven rounds of the competition to participate in the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
reconditioning programme. Following the 2007 Super 14 he was selected for the All Blacks squad for the 2007 mid-year Tests
2007 mid-year rugby test series
The 2007 mid-year rugby Test series refers to the Rugby union Test matches played during June and May 2007. These are played in the Southern Hemisphere, and include all Tests hosted by Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa outside of the 2007 Tri-Nations...
and 2007 Tri-Nations
2007 Tri Nations Series
The 2007 Tri Nations Series was an annual rugby union competition between the national teams of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The series began in South Africa on 16 June, with a Test between South Africa and Australia at Newlands, Cape Town and ended on 21 July in Eden Park, Auckland...
. He was one of only two uncapped players named in the squad, and All Blacks coach Graham Henry
Graham Henry
Graham Henry is a New Zealand Rugby Union coach, and former head coach of the country's national team, the All Blacks. He played rugby union for Canterbury and cricket for Otago in the Plunket Shield. Henry was heavily criticized following the All Blacks quarterfinal exit at the 2007 Rugby World...
said of Leonard's selection "Brendon [Leonard] has been the best attacking scrum-half in the Super 14 this season and has forced his way into the side based on form." He made his Test debut against France at Eden Park on 2 June 2007. He came on as a substitute for Piri Weepu
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...
in the 64th minute of the All Blacks 42-11 victory. He then scored his first Test try against South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
on 14 July 2007.