Doug Howlett
Encyclopedia
Douglas Charles Howlett (born 21 September 1978) is a professional New Zealand rugby union
player of Tonga
n descent. He is primarily a wing but he has also covered fullback at national and international levels. He currently plays in Ireland with Munster
. He is the brother of former Tongan rugby league international Phil
. With an outstanding 49 tries in 62 tests, Howlett is currently the 5th-highest try scorer in Rugby Union history and 1st on the all time highest try scorers for the All Blacks
. Howlett has a formidable reputation of being one of the fastest wings ever in the history of the game.
, son of Wooga-Wooga Howlett and Aquicha Quera Howlett attended May Road School, and Mt Roskill Intermediate School. He started playing rugby at Auckland Grammar School
, where he was also a star sprinter, captain of athletics and, during his final year in 1996, Head Prefect. He calls upon his speed as a sprinter (he once clocked a personal best 10.68 seconds for the 100 metres in an under 20 athletics championship in 1998) to great effect in his rugby career.
. He has played with 3 Super 14
teams, the Highlanders
, the Hurricanes
and the Blues. It was at hometown club the Blues he set established himself as one of the finest back players in the world.
, following in the footsteps of that other All Black great, Christian Cullen
, who commonly wore No. 22 for the province. Howlett joined Munster at the start of 2008.
He made his debut for Munster in the Heineken Cup against Clermont Auvergne, notably starting the movement for Lifeimi Mafi
's try. His second match came against London Wasps where he notably dived to save the ball in the build up to Denis Leamy's try. He scored his first Munster try against Ulster on 22 March 2008.
On 24 May 2008, Howlett was part of the Munster team that beat Toulouse 16–13 to win the 2008 Heineken European Cup
. Howlett had won his first cup with Munster only five and a half months into his career in the Northern Hemisphere. Howlett himself scored a try in the final only for it to be disallowed due to a forward pass from Rua Tipoki
.
Howlett joins Rod Kafer
as the only the second player to have won the major rugby tournaments in the Southern and Northern hemisphere, the Super 14 and Heineken Cup
. He enjoyed his success with the Auckland Blues in the 2003 Super 12 and Munster
in 2008. With Munster winning the Magners League title for the 08–09 season, Howlett now holds both a Heineken Cup and Magners League medal in the space of just two seasons with Munster. On the 26 February 2010 it was announced Howlett had signed a contract to stay on at Munster until the end of the 2010/2011 season, with the option for a further year. That option was confirmed by Munster in February 2011, and he will stay with Munster until the end of the 2011/2012 season at least.
on 16 June 2000. Since then, he has scored on average 4 points per game (155 from his first 38). He was also a first choice winger in the 2003 World Cup.
Howlett has scored 49 tries for the All Blacks, a team record. His hat-trick against Italy
on 8 September 2007, at the 2007 Rugby World Cup
, brought him level with the record of Christian Cullen
, the All Blacks' previous leading try scorer and then his try in the 15th minute against Scotland on 23 September gave him the record.
He was selected for the Rugby World Cup squad ahead of Canterbury and Tasman player Rico Gear
; however, he was expected to play the first three rounds of the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup. He scored a hat trick
in Auckland's victory over Counties Manukau in the first round, and on 11 August against Waikato
he scored two, bringing his try total for Auckland to 50. Howlett is known as a winger with a high work rate and strong defensive tackling ability.
In May 2009 Howlett was named in the Barbarians squad to play England and Australia.
, rugby league
, and netball
. Specifically it will assist with school fees, school books, sports fees and sports shoes or boots.
tournament. Howlett subsequently issued an apology through the media.
He was again arrested on 23 December 2010 on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly after his team's Christmas party in Kilkenny city.
He was never charged by the Police in Ireland, which lead to questions about what happened on the night. These were answered in August 2011 when The Irish Sun newspaper printed an apology to Howlett. In their apology they admitted numerous factual errors in their reporting on the incident in which he was arrested and admitted that it was another person and not Doug Howlett involved with the incident in which a Munster fan was injured. Doug Howlett is the patron of his own charity and it is believed that The Irish Sun made a contribution to this charity in compensation to Doug.
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...
player of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n descent. He is primarily a wing but he has also covered fullback at national and international levels. He currently plays in Ireland with Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
. He is the brother of former Tongan rugby league international Phil
Phil Howlett
Phil Howlett is a former rugby league player who represented Tonga. He is the brother of All Black Doug Howlett.-Playing career:Howlett played for the Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels and South Sydney Rabbitohs in Australia before joining the Bradford Bulls in the Super League.-Representative...
. With an outstanding 49 tries in 62 tests, Howlett is currently the 5th-highest try scorer in Rugby Union history and 1st on the all time highest try scorers for 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....
. Howlett has a formidable reputation of being one of the fastest wings ever in the history of the game.
Early life
Born 21 September 1978 in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, son of Wooga-Wooga Howlett and Aquicha Quera Howlett attended May Road School, and Mt Roskill Intermediate School. He started playing rugby at Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It had a roll of 2,483 in 2008, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand...
, where he was also a star sprinter, captain of athletics and, during his final year in 1996, Head Prefect. He calls upon his speed as a sprinter (he once clocked a personal best 10.68 seconds for the 100 metres in an under 20 athletics championship in 1998) to great effect in his rugby career.
New Zealand Clubs
Howlett made his first-class debut at the age of 18 for Auckland in the NPCAir New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
. He has played with 3 Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
teams, the Highlanders
The Highlanders
The Highlanders may refer to:*Highlanders , a professional rugby union team*Highlanders , a British Army infantry regiment*The Highlanders Shinty Club, a shinty club representing the British Army...
, the Hurricanes
The Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are a British rock 'n' roll indie group originally hailing from Edinburgh, Scotland.-Members:* James Adam - Drums/Percussion* Ed Cox - Electric Piano/Accordion* Sholto Dobie - Guitar/Bass* Triss Duncan - Guitar...
and the Blues. It was at hometown club the Blues he set established himself as one of the finest back players in the world.
Munster
As with other All Black players, Howlett has been courted by Northern Hemisphere clubs looking for a star signing in the aftermath of the Rugby World Cup. On 30 August 2007 Howlett signed for MunsterMunster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
, following in the footsteps of that other All Black great, Christian Cullen
Christian Cullen
Christian Mathias Cullen is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played most of his rugby at fullback for New Zealand , for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and for Manawatu, Wellington and later Munster at first-class level. He was nicknamed the Paekakariki Express...
, who commonly wore No. 22 for the province. Howlett joined Munster at the start of 2008.
He made his debut for Munster in the Heineken Cup against Clermont Auvergne, notably starting the movement for Lifeimi Mafi
Lifeimi Mafi
Lifeimi Mafi is a Tongan rugby union player, who currently plays for the Irish side Munster in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.-Career in New Zealand:...
's try. His second match came against London Wasps where he notably dived to save the ball in the build up to Denis Leamy's try. He scored his first Munster try against Ulster on 22 March 2008.
On 24 May 2008, Howlett was part of the Munster team that beat Toulouse 16–13 to win the 2008 Heineken European Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
. Howlett had won his first cup with Munster only five and a half months into his career in the Northern Hemisphere. Howlett himself scored a try in the final only for it to be disallowed due to a forward pass from Rua Tipoki
Rua Tipoki
Te Rua Reihana Tipoki brought up in Te Araroa in Gisborne, is a retired rugby union player who has played for North Harbour in the Air New Zealand Cup and for the Auckland Blues in the Super 14. Tipoki also played for Irish provincial side Munster until 2009. His position was outside centre...
.
Howlett joins Rod Kafer
Rod Kafer
Rodney "Rod" B. Kafer was a rugby union player for the ACT Brumbies and the Australian Wallabies. He is remembered by Brumbies fans for kicking a drop-goal in the final minute in a 2001 game against the Cats giving the Brumbies a one point win...
as the only the second player to have won the major rugby tournaments in the Southern and Northern hemisphere, the Super 14 and Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
. He enjoyed his success with the Auckland Blues in the 2003 Super 12 and Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
in 2008. With Munster winning the Magners League title for the 08–09 season, Howlett now holds both a Heineken Cup and Magners League medal in the space of just two seasons with Munster. On the 26 February 2010 it was announced Howlett had signed a contract to stay on at Munster until the end of the 2010/2011 season, with the option for a further year. That option was confirmed by Munster in February 2011, and he will stay with Munster until the end of the 2011/2012 season at least.
All Blacks
Doug debuted for the All BlacksAll 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....
on 16 June 2000. Since then, he has scored on average 4 points per game (155 from his first 38). He was also a first choice winger in the 2003 World Cup.
Howlett has scored 49 tries for the All Blacks, a team record. His hat-trick against Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
on 8 September 2007, at the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
, brought him level with the record of Christian Cullen
Christian Cullen
Christian Mathias Cullen is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played most of his rugby at fullback for New Zealand , for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and for Manawatu, Wellington and later Munster at first-class level. He was nicknamed the Paekakariki Express...
, the All Blacks' previous leading try scorer and then his try in the 15th minute against Scotland on 23 September gave him the record.
He was selected for the Rugby World Cup squad ahead of Canterbury and Tasman player 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....
; however, he was expected to play the first three rounds of the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup. He scored a hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
in Auckland's victory over Counties Manukau in the first round, and on 11 August against Waikato
Waikato 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...
he scored two, bringing his try total for Auckland to 50. Howlett is known as a winger with a high work rate and strong defensive tackling ability.
In May 2009 Howlett was named in the Barbarians squad to play England and Australia.
Outreach Foundation
On 22 February 2007 Howlett launched "The Doug Howlett Outreach Foundation" which is aimed at New Zealand children between the ages of 8 and 14 who demonstrate ability academically as well as on the sports field or court initially, in the codes of rugby unionRugby 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...
, rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, and netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
. Specifically it will assist with school fees, school books, sports fees and sports shoes or boots.
Controversy
Howlett was arrested on 9 October 2007 outside Heathrow Airport's Hilton Hotel on suspicion of criminal damage on two cars. This was following the All Blacks loss in Cardiff to France a few days earlier, a game which Howlett did not play in despite being in form throughout the Rugby World CupRugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
tournament. Howlett subsequently issued an apology through the media.
He was again arrested on 23 December 2010 on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly after his team's Christmas party in Kilkenny city.
He was never charged by the Police in Ireland, which lead to questions about what happened on the night. These were answered in August 2011 when The Irish Sun newspaper printed an apology to Howlett. In their apology they admitted numerous factual errors in their reporting on the incident in which he was arrested and admitted that it was another person and not Doug Howlett involved with the incident in which a Munster fan was injured. Doug Howlett is the patron of his own charity and it is believed that The Irish Sun made a contribution to this charity in compensation to Doug.