Shannon Paku
Encyclopedia
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
.
Paku joined French club US Montauban
for the 2008-2009 season. He plays on the wing and at fullback.
In 2003, he was signed to the (Auckland) Blues. He returned to Wellington
and to play for the Hurricanes for the 2004 season.
Paku has also represented the New Zealand Māori rugby union team
and was a member of the 2001 New Zealand Under 21 squad that won the International Under 21 tournament, as well as winning the Churchill Cup
in 2006 with the NZ Māori.
Prior to joining Wellington, he represented Wairarapa Bush and played for the Manawatu Under-16s and Secondary School teams.
Shannon has been strongly linked with a move to Guinness Premiership side Leeds Carnegie for the start of the 2010-2011 season after his current team US Montauban
were relegated from the Top 14 league for a punishment due to financial irregularities.
Paku played for the Manawatu Turbos in the 2010 ITM Cup.
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, who has played for the 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...
in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
competition, and for the Vodafone Wellington Lions who play in the Air New Zealand Cup
Air 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...
.
Paku joined French club US Montauban
US Montauban
US Montauban were a French rugby union club, which competed in the Top 14 competition between 2007 and 2010, after being promoted from Rugby Pro D2 for the 2006-07 season...
for the 2008-2009 season. He plays on the wing and at fullback.
In 2003, he was signed to the (Auckland) Blues. He returned to Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and to play for the Hurricanes for the 2004 season.
Paku has also represented the New Zealand Māori rugby union team
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
and was a member of the 2001 New Zealand Under 21 squad that won the International Under 21 tournament, as well as winning the Churchill Cup
Churchill Cup
The Churchill Cup was an annual rugby union tournament, held in June, contested by representative men's teams from Canada, England, the United States, and other invited teams from a wide array of countries....
in 2006 with the NZ Māori.
Prior to joining Wellington, he represented Wairarapa Bush and played for the Manawatu Under-16s and Secondary School teams.
Shannon has been strongly linked with a move to Guinness Premiership side Leeds Carnegie for the start of the 2010-2011 season after his current team US Montauban
US Montauban
US Montauban were a French rugby union club, which competed in the Top 14 competition between 2007 and 2010, after being promoted from Rugby Pro D2 for the 2006-07 season...
were relegated from the Top 14 league for a punishment due to financial irregularities.
Paku played for the Manawatu Turbos in the 2010 ITM Cup.