Birth name | Richard Mark Ranby | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 1 June 1977 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Putāruru, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 91 kg (201 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Freyberg High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notable relative(s) | Margaret Kouvelis (mother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Richard Mark Ranby (born 1 June 1977) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. A midfield back, Ranby represented Manawatu, the Central Vikings and Waikato at a provincial level, and the Hurricanes and the Chiefs in Super Rugby. He played one international for the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, against Samoa in 2001. [1] He played for the Japanese side Coca-Cola West Red Sparks for two seasons from 2006. [2] [3] He spent a year studying at the University of Cambridge in 2008–09, completing a Diploma in Theology and Religious Studies, [4] and played for Cambridge against Oxford in the 2008 Varsity Match. [5] In 2012 he was appointed professional development manager for the Crusaders and Canterbury Rugby. [6]
Ranby's mother, Margaret Kouvelis, was elected Mayor of Manawatu in 2012. [5] [7]
The Hurricanes is a New Zealand professional men's rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in Super Rugby. The Hurricanes were formed to represent the lower North Island, including the East Coast, Hawke's Bay, Horowhenua Kapiti, Manawatū, Poverty Bay, Taranaki, Wairarapa-Bush, Wanganui and Wellington unions. They currently play at Sky Stadium, having previously played at the now-defunct Athletic Park.
The Varsity Match is an annual rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. The event began in 1872 with the first men's match, with interruptions only for the two World Wars and the COVID-19 pandemic. From 1921 to 2023 the game was played at Twickenham Stadium, London and usually took place in early December. The game is now played in March and will take place at StoneX Stadium in 2024.
Awatapu College is a state co-educational secondary school in Awapuni, Palmerston North, New Zealand. It was opened in 1976, and as of August 2024 it had 885 students.
Palmerston North Boys' High School is a boys' school in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union (HBRU) is the governing body of rugby union in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. The union is based in Napier.
The Manawatu Rugby Football Union (MRU) serves as the governing body of the sport of rugby union in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand.
Kayla Marie Whitelock is a New Zealand field hockey player, and former captain of the New Zealand women's national field hockey team. She has competed in four Olympic Games, three Commonwealth Games and two Hockey World Cups. She was named on the FIH's All-Star Team in 2010 and was Hockey New Zealand's player of the year in 2012.
Craig Clare is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays for Wanganui in the Heartland Championship. He also played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, before a broken leg stalled his career and caused a long injury layoff.
Johnny Leota is a Samoan rugby union player who played for Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership. Leota was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand and made his international debut for Samoa in 2011; he has since won 20 caps. He previously played for Manawatu Turbos in the ITM Cup. Started in 2001, making the NZ Rugby League U17 tournament team and NZ secondary schools tournament team. From here he progress into the Hurricanes schools team which lead to him being put into the academy. Leota followed the rugby path with no success until 2004 where he made his debut for Manawatu Rugby before making his breakthrough season to the Highlanders super rugby squad after a stunning 2007 season. He was offered a contract with the West Tigers in NRL 2007 but chose to go with the Highlanders.
Josh Bradnock is a retired New Zealand Super Rugby rugby player. Bradnock captained the Manawatu Turbos in the Air New Zealand Cup. He was one of the top openside flankers in New Zealand rugby. Josh Bradnock was an exciting addition to 2009 Hurricanes squad by adding depth and enthusiasm to the loose forward stocks. However, injury severely limited his first season and eventually forced his early retirement from the game.
George Braeden Whitelock is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He played for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby competition and Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup. He played as a flanker.
Aaron Wiremu Cruden is a New Zealand rugby union player, who plays for Waikato and formerly Montpellier, Manawatu and New Zealand internationally. Cruden's usual position is fly-half.
Ma'afu Fia is a Tongan International rugby union prop who most recently played rugby for Ospreys in the URC, having previously represented the Highlanders in Super Rugby.
Jason Emery is a New Zealand rugby union player who represents the Sunwolves in Super Rugby, as well as for Manawatu in the Mitre 10 Cup. He also plays for Rugby New York (Ironworkers) in Major League Rugby (MLR) in the United States. His position of choice is centre.
The Mayor of Manawatu officiates over the Manawatū District of New Zealand.
Koinonia Halafungani Laumape is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who currently plays as a centre for Kobelco Kobe Steelers. Laumape previously played in Super Rugby for the Hurricanes and was previously a rugby league player for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League.
Hamish Northcott is a New Zealand rugby union player who played as a Second five-eighth or Centre for Manawatu in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Karl Haitana is a rugby union player born in Marton, New Zealand on 29 March 1984. He has represented New Zealand at international level at a number of age groups and currently plays for English side Tunbridge Wells RFC as a Prop.
Selica Winiata is a New Zealand Rugby union player and referee. She plays for the Black Ferns, the Black Ferns Sevens and provincially for the Manawatu Cyclones. She was part of the Black Ferns 2014 and Champion 2017 Rugby World Cup squads. She won a silver medal with the Black Ferns Sevens team at the inaugural women's 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament and a gold medal at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Karl John Williams is a former New Zealand professional rugby player.