Michael Broadhurst

Last updated

Michael Broadhurst
Birth nameMichael John Broadhurst
Date of birth (1986-10-30) 30 October 1986 (age 37)
Place of birth Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand
Height196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight111 kg (17 st 7 lb; 245 lb)
Notable relative(s) James Broadhurst (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Lock, Number 8
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2008
2009–2010
2010–
Poverty Bay
Kubota Spears
Ricoh Black Rams
10
13
103
(20)
(10)
(65)
Correct as of 21 February 2021
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2012–2015 Japan 26 (35)
Correct as of 11 October 2015

Michael Broadhurst (born 30 October 1986) is a New Zealand born Japanese rugby union player who plays at flanker, lock or number 8 for the Ricoh Black Rams in the Top League and the Japan national rugby union team.

Broadhurst was educated at Campion College, Gisborne [1] and started his career with Poverty Bay in the Heartland Championship and in 2008 he won selection for the New Zealand Heartland XV as one of the top players in the competition. [2]

In 2009, Broadhurst moved to Japan to play for the Kubota Spears in the Top League who he spent one season with before moving to the Ricoh Black Rams. In 2012 he qualified to play for Japan through residency, and he played his first matches for them in June in the two matches series against the French Barbarians playing at lock and scored a try in the second match. Later in the year in November, he made his full capped debut for Japan coming off the bench in the wins against Romania [3] and Georgia.

In 2013, with Michael Leitch out injured, Broadhurst won starting position in the team at flanker and notably scored tries in both matches of the two test matches against Wales in June, helping Japan to their first ever victory over the Welsh in the 2nd Test. [4]

Broadhurst returned to the Japan team in 2015 after missing all of 2014 with injury, and started every match in their successful Rugby World Cup campaign. Following that tournament he retired from international rugby to spend more time with his family, but continued playing in Japan for the Ricoh Black Rams and became a Japanese citizen in 2017.

His younger brother James Broadhurst was also a professional rugby player until his retirement in 2017. James is also a former All Black.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonga national rugby union team</span> Rugby union team

The Tonga national rugby union team represents the Tonga Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. The team is nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a traditional challenge – the Sipi Tau. They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Samoa. The Ikale Tahi achieved a historic 19–14 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but having lost to New Zealand and Canada, were unable to achieve what would have been their first-ever presence at the quarter-finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Rams Tokyo</span> Rugby team

Black Rams Tokyo is a Japanese rugby union team in the Japan Rugby League One. Being ranked tenth meant that, in order to continue in the league, it had to defeat one of the top regional clubs in a play-off, which it achieved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Larkham</span> Australian rugby union player and coach

Stephen Larkham is a retired Australian rugby union professional player, currently in the role of head coach for Brumbies. He spent his career with the Brumbies in Super Rugby, for whom he played from the inception of the professional Super 12 in 1996 through 2007. He is best known for his long tenure with the Wallabies at international level, for whom he played 102 times. After initial selection at fullback from 1996 to 1997, Larkham was the first-choice Australian fly-half from 1997 to 2007, playing in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. He is married to Jacqueline and has two children, Jaimee and Tiahna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Collins</span> New Zealand rugby union footballer

Jerry Collins was a professional rugby union player. Although he was born in Apia, Samoa, he grew up in New Zealand and played for the New Zealand national team, earning 48 caps. At club level, he played for the Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise in New Zealand, Toulon and Narbonne in the Rugby Pro D2, Ospreys in Wales, and Yamaha Júbilo in Japan. He played as a flanker and number eight, and was considered to be one of the hardest tacklers in the sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby union in New Zealand</span>

Rugby union has been played in New Zealand since 1870 and is the most popular sport in the country as well as being its national sport.

Tamati Edward Ellison is a New Zealand rugby union footballer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hosea Gear</span> Rugby player

Hosea Emiliano Gear is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played as a wing. He has also played 14 international matches for New Zealand.

Tevita Hale Nai Tu'uhoko, often known simply as Hale T-Pole or Hale T Pole, is a Tongan rugby union footballer who plays as a flanker or number eight for the Ricoh Black Rams in the Top League in Japan. He has also played internationally for Tonga and the Pacific Islanders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Thomson (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

Adam Thomson is a New Zealand rugby union player. He represented the New Zealand All Blacks between 2008 and 2012, playing a total of 29 tests including two during the victorious 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign. He played for the Melbourne Rebels in 2016, having also played Super Rugby with the Queensland Reds (2015) and Highlanders (2006-2012). He has also represented the Canon Eagles in Japan's Top League and New Zealand province Otago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kieran Crowley</span> Rugby union coach

Kieran James Crowley is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player, who is the head coach of Italy. He has also coached the New Zealand Under-19s in the 2007 World Championships as well as coaching provincial side Taranaki. He previously served as head coach of Canada. He also spent five seasons coaching Benetton Rugby.

Campion College, Gisborne is a Catholic, State-integrated, co-educational college located in Gisborne, New Zealand including students from Year 7 to Year 13. The college received its name from its patron saint, St Edmund Campion whose feast day is 1 December. Religious Education is provided for all classes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Whitelock</span> New Zealand rugby union footballer

Samuel Lawrence Whitelock is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a lock for Pau in the Top 14 competition.

James Broadhurst is a former New Zealand rugby union lock who played provincial rugby for Taranaki, Super Rugby for the Hurricanes, and for the All Blacks. He was also a national representative at the under-19 and under-21 levels.

Charlie Ngatai is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a centre, although he can also cover other backline positions. Ngatai is currently playing for Leinster in Ireland, having previously been Captain of the Chiefs, Taranaki Rugby Football Union and of the Māori All Blacks internationally.

Franco John Mostert is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays for Honda Heat and the South Africa national team. His usual position is lock. He was one of the members of the winning Springboks in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan as well as the 2023 WC in France.

Jamison Ratu Gibson-Park is a professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for United Rugby Championship club Leinster. Born in New Zealand, he represents Ireland at international level after qualifying through residency.

Liam John Barry is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former rugby union player. He was most previously the assistant coach of the New Zealand men's sevens team. He has previously been the assistant coach the Blues and head coach of North Harbour's provincial rugby union side. He debuted for North Harbour in 1991 at the age of 20, and racked up 83 games over a decade-long provincial career. He had two spells in Japan, playing for NEC from 1997 to 2001 and Kubota from 2002 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peni Ravai</span> Fijian rugby union player

Peni Ravai Kovekalou is a Fijian rugby union player, who currently plays at hooker and prop for the Flying Fijians and the Reds in Super Rugby. He previously played for Southland in the Mitre 10 Cup in New Zealand, Aurillac in the Pro D2, and Bordeaux Bègles and Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14. He has also played at centre and on the wings.

Samuel Puni Kaleta, known as Sam Kaleta is a former New-Zealand born Samoan rugby union player who played also for Japan. He played as a flanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rieko Ioane</span> New Zealander rugby union player

Rieko Edward Ioane is a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer who plays as a wing or as a centre for New Zealand team Blues in Super Rugby and the New Zealand national team. In his youth career, he was selected to play in the 2014 and 2015 Sevens World Series for New Zealand and took part in Auckland Grammar School first XV, the top representative team in secondary school.

References

  1. Chris Taew, "A rugby story he will tell his sons", Gisborne Hearald, 21 September 2015 (Retrieved 5 September 2022)
  2. "NZ Heartland XV squad named". Archived from the original on 20 June 2013.
  3. "Romania v Japan at Bucharest".
  4. BBC. "Japan record historic first win over Wales". 15 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.