Jonah Lomu
Arguably the most famous New Zealand Rugby player. He became the youngest ever All Black when he played his first international in 1994 at the age of 19. Lomu is also regarded as the most true global superstar of rugby and consequently had a huge impact on the game. The player was inducted in the Hall of Fame of International Rugby in 2007.
Quade Cooper
A professional rugby union player and occasional boxer. Although a New Zealand citizen, he has represented Australia in rugby at international level. He is a former player for the Queensland Reds and is currently with the Melbourne Rebels in the Super Rugby competition in Australia. Though, born in Auckland, New Zealand he represented the Australian national team.
Dan Carter
A Kiwi rugby union player. Carter plays for Kobelco Steelers in Japan and played for New Zealand national team, the All Blacks. He is also the highest point scorer in test match rugby. He was named the International Rugby Board Player of the Year in 2005, 2012 and 2015. In the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final against Australia, he successfully kicked four penalties, two conversions and a drop goal, he was adjudged Man of the Match.
Conrad Smith
The player generally plays as centre. He captained the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and played for New Zealand from 2004 till 2015. He was a key member of New Zealand’s 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winning teams. He retired after the 2015 World Cup and took up a professional rugby contract in France.
Chris Feauai-Sautia
The New Zealand born Australian rugby player plays for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby and his usual position is Wing. However, he can also play at the centre, over the time he has proved to be an asset for his team.
Israel Dagg
A former New Zealand rugby union player who played for the Crusaders in Super Rugby. He has also played for the New Zealand Seven teams, and represents Hawkes Bay in the ITM Cup. He played international rugby for New Zealand’s All Blacks from 2010 to 2017, although, frequent injuries disturbed his career. Dagg announced his retirement from rugby in 2019 after being bothered by injuries. Now, he has been a member of the Crusaders coaching and advisory staff.
Cooper Vuna
A player for the Newcastle Falcons in the RFU Championship. He played rugby league as a wing for the New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League competition, before switching to play Super Rugby for the Melbourne Rebels.
Kieran Read
The current captain of the All Blacks, NZ’s national rugby union team. Read made his international debut for New Zealand in 2008, after representing Canterbury, as Captain, in the Mitre 10 Cup. The Auckland lad is currently associated with Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union. He is the most capped rugby player in history. Read has been captain of the All Blacks since 2016.
Rugby is also New Zealand’s national sport, rugby is very well part of the Kiwi culture, and a lot of major sporting events are organized throughout the calendar.
