Tom Willis (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Tom Willis is a professional rugby union
player who plays at hooker for the Newport Gwent Dragons
in the RaboDirect Pro12.
and fellow rising star Andrew Hore
.
Injury to Oliver saw Willis finally see a starting role for the Highlanders in the 2002 Super 12 season
, and he impressed enough that he was starting Tri Nations
games for the All Blacks
following the campaign. However, with Oliver back healthy Willis again found himself on the reserve bench for both the 2003 Super Rugby and NPC seasons. Despite a lack of playing time, he still managed to show his substantial ability in limited minutes - in the 2003 NPC he scored 5 tries despite making only 2 starts in 9 total appearances.
Following the 2003 provincial season, Willis transferred to Waikato
and the Chiefs
in a bid to get more consistent playing time. However, shortly thereafter he suffered complications following a back injury, which forced him out of rugby for over a year.
After missing the entire 2005 Super 12 season
, Willis returned to hold down the starting position at hooker for the Chiefs for another three seasons through 2008.
However, it was as captain of Waikato that he achieved his greatest triumphs, as he led the province to the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup
championship as well as a Ranfurly Shield
triumph over North Harbour
in 2007.
for the following European season.
After arriving in Wales, he was quickly appointed team captain and made 25 appearances in his first season for the club.
for their end of year tour in 2001, where he made starts - and was named team captain - against Ireland A and Scotland A. However, neither of these contests were considered test matches.
After a strong 2002 Super 12 season
, he was again selected to the All Blacks for that year's domestic and Tri Nations
tests. He made his test debut on 8 June 2002, starting in a 64–10 win over Italy in Hamilton
. He would go on to make another four appearances for New Zealand that year.
However, these would be his final international appearances. Injury ruled him out of the 2002 end of year tour, and he was left off the 2003 Rugby World Cup
squad. His long injury layoff in 2004-2005 would then ultimately serve to permanently end his international career.
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 plays at hooker for the Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
in the RaboDirect Pro12.
New Zealand
Willis made his provincial debut for Otago in 1999 and his Super Rugby debut for the Highlanders the following year, but found playing time difficult to come by in the same sides as incumbent All Black hooker Anton OliverAnton Oliver
Anton David Oliver is a retired New Zealand rugby union footballer who most recently played professionally for the French second-division club Toulon, noted for signing veteran greats including former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga and great George Gregan...
and fellow rising star Andrew Hore
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...
.
Injury to Oliver saw Willis finally see a starting role for the Highlanders in the 2002 Super 12 season
2002 Super 12 season
The 2002 Super 12 season was the seventh season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2002, with each team playing all the others once...
, and he impressed enough that he was starting Tri Nations
Tri Nations
Tri Nations may refer to:In Rugby union:* Tri Nations , the former name of The Rugby Championship a competition featuring Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa* Pacific Tri-Nations, the series between Fiji, Samoa and Tonga...
games 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....
following the campaign. However, with Oliver back healthy Willis again found himself on the reserve bench for both the 2003 Super Rugby and NPC seasons. Despite a lack of playing time, he still managed to show his substantial ability in limited minutes - in the 2003 NPC he scored 5 tries despite making only 2 starts in 9 total appearances.
Following the 2003 provincial season, Willis transferred to 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...
and 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...
in a bid to get more consistent playing time. However, shortly thereafter he suffered complications following a back injury, which forced him out of rugby for over a year.
After missing the entire 2005 Super 12 season
2005 Super 12 season
The 2005 Super 12 season was the tenth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2005, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals,...
, Willis returned to hold down the starting position at hooker for the Chiefs for another three seasons through 2008.
However, it was as captain of Waikato that he achieved his greatest triumphs, as he led the province to the 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....
championship as well as a Ranfurly Shield
Ranfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...
triumph over North Harbour
North Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
in 2007.
Europe
On 23 April 2008, Willis confirmed he was joining Welsh Magners League side Newport Gwent DragonsNewport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
for the following European season.
After arriving in Wales, he was quickly appointed team captain and made 25 appearances in his first season for the club.
International Play
Willis was first selected to 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....
for their end of year tour in 2001, where he made starts - and was named team captain - against Ireland A and Scotland A. However, neither of these contests were considered test matches.
After a strong 2002 Super 12 season
2002 Super 12 season
The 2002 Super 12 season was the seventh season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2002, with each team playing all the others once...
, he was again selected to the All Blacks for that year's domestic and Tri Nations
Tri Nations
Tri Nations may refer to:In Rugby union:* Tri Nations , the former name of The Rugby Championship a competition featuring Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa* Pacific Tri-Nations, the series between Fiji, Samoa and Tonga...
tests. He made his test debut on 8 June 2002, starting in a 64–10 win over Italy in Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
. He would go on to make another four appearances for New Zealand that year.
However, these would be his final international appearances. Injury ruled him out of the 2002 end of year tour, and he was left off the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
squad. His long injury layoff in 2004-2005 would then ultimately serve to permanently end his international career.