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2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa Season
The 2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa season (branded as Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa for sponsorship reasons) was a domestic club rugby union tournament organised by New Zealand Rugby. It was a 10-week, round robin tournament played between the five New Zealand-based teams of Super Rugby. The competition supplanted the 2020 Super Rugby season, which was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Announced on 6 May, the competition ran from 13 June to 14 August, making it the first professional rugby union competition to occur since the beginning of the pandemic. On 8 June, with most non-travel restrictions relating to the pandemic having been lifted in New Zealand (Alert Level 1), it was announced that the matches would be played with spectators admitted, making it among the first professional sporting events not played behind closed doors since the beginning of the pandemic's global spread. Due to the reinstatement of restrictions nationally on 11 August after new cases of comm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country by area, covering . New Zealand is about east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, and its most populous city is Auckland. The islands of New Zealand were the last large habitable land to be settled by humans. Between about 1280 and 1350, Polynesians began to settle in the islands and then developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight and record New Zealand. In 1840, representatives of the United Kingdom and Māori chiefs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ash Dixon
Ash Dixon (born 1 September 1988) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a hooker for Green Rockets Tokatsu in the Japan Rugby League One. He formerly played for the in Super Rugby and for in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He has also played for the and . Early career Dixon was a 2006 New Zealand Secondary Schools representative and Canterbury age-group rep through to Under-19 level. He has won the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship with the New Zealand Under-19 team as well as the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship with the New Zealand Under-20s. Senior career Dixon started his career with , playing 21 matches for the province from 2008 to 2009 before shifting north to further his career with . The move paid off after he was awarded a wider training group contract with the for the 2010 Super 14 season. After being a part of the Wider Training Group in 2010, Dixon was then promoted to the senior side fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Otere Black
Otere Black (born 4 May 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a first five-eighth for in the Mitre 10 Cup and the Blues in Super Rugby. Domestic career Manawatu Black attended Hato Paora College for four years before moving on to Tū Toa where he graduated in 2013. He subsequently linked up with the local College Old Boys club. After scoring an impressive 223 points in sixteen games, he was promoted to the Manawatu Turbos ITM Cup side for 2014. His debut campaign with the Turbos was successful for both him and his team. Manawatu finished their season top of the ITM Cup Championship division and were promoted to the Premiership for 2015 following a play-off victory over . Hurricanes Black was part of the Hurricanes' wider training group in 2015, but got a chance to make his Super Rugby debut after a knee injury sidelined incumbent number ten Beauden Barrett. He made four appearances for the Hurricanes, scoring 17 points, and impressing with his compo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dalton Papalii
Dalton Reece Papalii ("Pa-pa-lee-e") is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for Counties Manukau in the Mitre 10 Cup and the in the Super Rugby competition. Papalii has played 22 tests for the All Blacks, New Zealand's international team, since his debut in 2018. His position of choice is flanker. Papalii has previously represented New Zealand at Under-20 level. Early life and education He played rugby league, his family's sport, in his early years but switched to rugby union as a youngster, when he had the chance to go to Saint Kentigern College. He went on to captain his school's First XV, and won the 2015 Grant Dalton Cup after captaining them to the title by beating Auckland Grammar School in the final. In 2015 he led the New Zealand national schoolboy rugby union team to victory over Australia. Domestic career After school, Papalii joined the Auckland development programme and also represented his local club Pakuranga. He played for the Blues under-18 squad ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
TJ Faiane
TJ Faiane (born 24 August 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a midfield back for in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the in the international Super Rugby competition. Early career A teenage prodigy, Faiane made a big impression playing first XV rugby for Saint Kentigern College in Auckland, helping them win 3 successive 1A Championship titles. Senior career Aged just 18, Faiane was named in the Auckland squad for the 2014 ITM Cup, and he went on to make 7 appearances for them during the season, 5 of which were from the start. Injuries ruled him out of the 2015 and 2016 seasons so he has so far been unable to add to his seven provincial caps. Super Rugby Despite missing the entire 2015 New Zealand domestic season through injury, new head-coach Tana Umaga sprang a surprise ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season when he named Faiane as a member of the franchise's wider training group. Once again injuries hindered him and he didn't mak ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Caleb Clarke (rugby Union)
Caleb Daniel Clarke (born 29 March 1999) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the in the Super Rugby competition. His position of choice is wing. Clarke made his international debut for New Zealand in 2020 and has since played 12 tests. Early life Clarke attended Mount Albert Grammar School and was first selected for the school's First XV aged 14, where he played until 2016. Playing career Early career Clarke was selected for the All Blacks Sevens in 2018, following his first season for Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup. Good performances for Auckland also led to Clarke's selection for the New Zealand U20's, for 2017 and 2018. In 2019, his second season of Super Rugby, Clarke also became a regular starter for the Blues, under new Head Coach, Leon MacDonald. 2020 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Clarke, as well as his teammates from the New Zealand Rugby Sevens team, were released to play for their provinces and Super Rugby clubs. Clarke was in career-best form ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Williams (rugby Referee)
Paul Williams (born 11 April 1985) is a professional rugby union referee from New Zealand who currently referees in the Super Rugby competition and in international test matches. Williams started refereeing in 2011 while still playing at halfback at club level and was appointed to the New Zealand High Performance referee squad in 2014. He quickly rose up the domestic ranks of refereeing, ultimately becoming a full-time referee on the Super Rugby panel in 2016, the first ever from Taranaki. Williams refereed the 2016 World Rugby U20 Championship final between England and Ireland. In June 2017, Williams took charge of his first international test match, the clash between Italy and Scotland in Singapore. 2018 saw Williams referee eight Super Rugby matches as well as three further Tier 1 tests. Williams was selected to referee at the 2019 Rugby World Cup The 2019 Rugby World Cup was the ninth edition of the Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men's rugby u ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Forsyth Barr Stadium
The Forsyth Barr Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand. At various stages of development it was also known as Dunedin Stadium or Awatea Street Stadium, or its non-commercial official name during the 2011 Rugby World Cup and 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Otago Stadium. The fully covered stadium is also known colloquially as 'The Glasshouse' due to its resemblance to a horticultural hothouse. The stadium was opened by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on 5 August 2011, replacing Carisbrook as the home stadium of the Highlanders team in Super Rugby and the Otago Rugby Football Union team in the domestic Mitre 10 Cup. The stadium hosted four matches of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and has hosted major music tours, starting in November 2011 with Elton John. The venue will host multiple matches for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Location The stadium is located in Dunedin North, close to the outflow of the Water of Leith into Otago Harbour (and directly over th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Damian McKenzie
Damian Sinclair McKenzie (born 20 April 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays fullback or First five-eighth for Waikato in the Bunnings NPC competition and Chiefs in super rugby . McKenzie has played 40 tests for New Zealand since his international debut in 2016. McKenzie began his professional career playing for Waikato in the Bunnings NPC. McKenzie has also previously represented the Chiefs in Super Rugby, he is their all-time highest points scorer. Early life McKenzie, of European and Māori descent, was born in 1995 in Invercargill. He received his secondary education at Christ's College in Christchurch. Domestic rugby McKenzie has received attention for his trademark smile before attempting a kick at goal. Since the beginning of the 2015 season, McKenzie has been contracted to the franchise who compete in the Super Rugby competition. He has become a regular starter and is often in charge of goal kicking. In 2016, McKenzie played every game in the C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anton Lienert-Brown
Anton Russell Lienert-Brown (born 15 April 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a second five-eighth or Centre for the in Super Rugby, and in the Mitre 10 Cup. He made his debut for New Zealand (the All Blacks) in 2016. Career Early career Lienert-Brown began his career in Christchurch, where he caught the eye with some excellent performances for Christchurch Boys' High School in the 2012 South Island finals. This began a rapid ascent for the young second five-eighth who was in line to be part of the squad for the 2013 ITM Cup until a shoulder injury ruled him out. Nonetheless 2012 and 2013 Super Rugby champions the included him in their 2014 squad as part of the franchise's wider training group. He made his Super Rugby debut on 29 March 2014 in a 34–34 draw against the in Pretoria. Starting the game in an unfamiliar role on the wing, he was replaced by Tim Nanai-Williams in the 51st minute. 2016–2017 After Charlie Ngatai was ruled ou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sean Wainui
Sean Wainui (23 October 1995 – 18 October 2021) was a New Zealand rugby union player. He played on the wing (and occasionally centre) for provincial side Bay of Plenty, the Chiefs in Super Rugby, and for New Zealand's Māori international side the Māori All Blacks. Early life Wainui was a member of the Takapuna Grammar School 1st XV in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was awarded North Harbour's 2013 Māori Colts Senior Player of the Year whilst still in school. Also an ex Takapuna Grammar Prefect and 1st XV Captain, Wainui represented New Zealand on the world stage after playing for the Champion New Zealand team in the Under 20 Rugby World Cup in Italy. The team played England for the title, winning 21–16. Domestic career Taranaki Upon leaving school, Wainui was contracted by the Taranaki Rugby Football Union. In his first year out of school he was a part of Taranaki's 2014 national provincial championship squad. He was spotted by coach Colin Cooper and had signed with Taranaki ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bryn Gatland
Bryn Gatland (born 10 May 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a fly-half for in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition. Gatland is the son of former rugby union footballer and coach Warren Gatland. Youth career Born and raised in Waikato, Gatland attended Southwell School where he played first XI cricket & first team Rugby. Later while at Hamilton Boys' High School, his late drop goal in the final helped Boys High lift the 2013 Top 4 first XV title against Saint Kentigern College. Senior career Gatland made the Waikato squad for the 2015 ITM Cup, but due to the emergence of future All Black Damian McKenzie in the number 10 jersey, his game time was limited to just a solitary substitute appearance against the . The signings of the new Fly Halves, Sam Christie and Stephen Donald for 2016 prompted Gatland to head north to Auckland and try his luck with . His decision to move to Harbour proved to be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
