Keven Mealamu
 | |||
| Full name | Keven Filipo Mealamu | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 March 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Tokoroa, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Weight | 111 kg (17 st 7 lb)[1] | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Hooker | ||
| New Zealand No. | 1026 | ||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1999–2015 |  Auckland |
65 | (70) |
| correct as of 14 September 2012. | |||
| Super Rugby | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2000– 2015 2002 |
Blues Chiefs |
164 11 |
(55) (10) |
| correct as of 18 April 2015. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2002–2015 | New Zealand |
132 | (60) |
| correct as of 31 October 2015. | |||
Keven Mealamu MNZM (born 20 March 1979 in Tokoroa, Waikato, New Zealand) is a New Zealand retired rugby union footballer. He played at hooker for the Blues in Super Rugby, Auckland in the National Provincial Championship, and the New Zealand national team, All Blacks. He was a key member of 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winning teams, becoming one of only twenty dual Rugby Union World Cup winners.
In a Bledisloe Cup test match against Australia on 20 October 2012, Mealamu became the third All Black to reach 100 test appearances. He clinched the 2003 Super Rugby Title.[2]
Early career
He is a former student of Aorere College, where his brother and former Manu Samoa player Luke Mealamu currently works as a social worker. He played as a flanker for New Zealand Under-16s and New Zealand Schools before switching to hooker in 1998.
Professional career and the All Blacks
He made his debut for the All Blacks on 23 November 2002, against Wales at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Mealamu's provincial rugby debut was for Auckland in 1999. He first played for the Blues in 2000, but had a stint with the Chiefs in 2002 – the same year he debuted for the All Blacks. Mealamu also made a fine contribution to the start of the All Blacks' 2006 Tri Nations campaign with two tries against the Wallabies during the first match. Mealamu captained the Blues through their 2006 Super 14 campaign, but was forced to relinquish the captaincy in 2007 due to his commitments to the All Blacks. Mealamu was made test captain in the test match against Scotland during the All Blacks 2008 Grand Slam tour, as regular captain Richie McCaw was a reserve for that match. He was a part of New Zealand's 2011 Rugby World Cup winning squad. In 2014, he made his 150th appearance for the Blues, becoming the first player in Super Rugby history to make 150 appearances for one team. In 2015,After the world cup,he retired from rugby.
Mealamu and captain Tana Umaga were involved in a controversial spear tackle on Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll on 25 June 2005.[3] Following a test match against England at Twickenham on 6 November 2010, Mealamu was cited by the independent citing commissioner (John West, Ireland) for headbutting Lewis Moody.[4]
Leading of the Haka
Mealamu became an important part of the leadership team of the national side and led the haka for the All Blacks 31 times. He led the Ka Mate version 23 times and the Kapa o Pango version 8 times. He first led the team in September 2007 against Italy. In his final international test he led the Kapa o Pango haka before the final against Australia during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
References
- ↑ http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile.asp?ABID=1029
- ↑ Knowler, Richard (18 October 2012). "Keven Mealamu to start for 100th milestone". Stuff. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ↑ "Henry defends duo over O'Driscoll". BBC Sport. 28 June 2005. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
- ↑ "All Blacks hooker Mealamu cited after England game". BBC Sport. 7 November 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2010.