Nathan Harris (rugby union)

Last updated

Nathan Harris
Nathan Harris thumb17.jpg
Full nameNathan Paul Harris
Date of birth (1992-03-08) 8 March 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth Tauranga, New Zealand
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight110 kg (17 st 5 lb; 243 lb)
School Tauranga Boys' College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2012–2021 Bay of Plenty 39 (15)
2014–2021 Chiefs 62 (40)
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2012 New Zealand U20 5 (5)
2014–2018 New Zealand 20 (10)

Nathan Paul Harris (born 8 March 1992) is a former New Zealand rugby union player who played as a hooker for Bay of Plenty in the ITM Cup [1] [2] and the Chiefs in Super Rugby. [3] [4]

Contents

Career

Harris debuted for Bay of Plenty during the 2012 ITM Cup. He only made a solitary appearance during that campaign, but the following year he established himself as the Steamers' first-choice hooker. Despite a disappointing season for his side in 2013, Harris' individual performances were impressive. Initially, he was not named in any of New Zealand's five Super Rugby franchises squads for the 2014 Super Rugby season. But, the defending champion Chiefs, who had selected Hika Elliot, Mahonri Schwalger and Rhys Marshall as their hookers were struck with a selection crisis as Elliot and Schwalger went down with injuries prior to the start of the season. This opened the door for Harris to join the Hamilton based outfit on a short-term contract. [4] He made his super rugby debut in week 1 of the season as the Chiefs defeated the Crusaders in Christchurch. [5]

International career

Early career

Harris was a member of the New Zealand Under 20 side which finished as runners-up in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa. Harris was first-choice hooker during the competition, with his back up being future Chiefs teammate Rhys Marshall, who he later backed up. [6] During his time in South Africa, it was revealed that he was being investigated by South African police on a rape allegation. Harris maintained ignorance. He was later cleared of any wrongdoing, and South African authorities did not prosecute him. [7]

Harris made his international debut for New Zealand in round 5 of the 2014 Rugby Championship, replacing the great Keven Mealamu with nine minutes to go. This came after Harris and prop Joe Moody were added to the squad as injury cover. Harris made his first international start in his second test for the All Blacks, scoring the opening try against the United States in the first two minutes. Harris was unfortunately injured ten minutes later, being replaced by Mealamu. The All Blacks went on to demolish the States 74-6.

2015-2016

After missing all of international rugby in 2015 due to injury, Harris was re-selected for the All Blacks in the 32-man squad to face Wales in 2016. Harris replaced Dane Coles off the bench in the first and second tests of the series, scoring the winning try of the first test long after the whistle was blown, allowing the All Blacks to win 39-21. Harris only managed 13 minutes of game-time across the series however, due to the dominance of Coles, who was later nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year in 2016. Harris was named to start in the first test of the Bledisloe Cup against Australia that year, but was replaced by Codie Taylor due to snapping his ACL prior to the test. Harris missed the rest of 2016 due to injury.

2017-2019

Harris was selected for the 2017 series against the British and Irish Lions, replacing Codie Taylor in the warm-up 78-0 demolition of Samoa the week before the first test. Harris performed incredibly well throwing the lineout ball, with the All Blacks winning all nine of Harris' throws. This saw Harris chosen to replace Taylor off the bench in all three tests against the Lions. Harris only played 23 minutes of game time across the series unfortunately, with Taylor being one of the standout performers of the series.

Harris stayed injury-free for the rest of 2017 and played another five times in the year. Harris started against the Barbarians on the end-of-year tour. Despite a great performance for most of the fixture, Harris silenced critics by scoring a great try. Harris was replaced by debutant Asafo Aumua with 12 minutes left. Harris started again on tour against a French XV before making way for Aumua with 14 minutes to go. Harris made two more appearances for the All Blacks on the end-of-year tour, replacing Taylor- the clear first-choice hooker, off the bench in wins against Scotland and Wales.

Harris replaced Taylor off the bench in the first two tests of the 2018 French series, but missed the third test due to the birth of his first child. Liam Coltman earned a re-call to international rugby in Harris' absence. He played a total of nine tests off the bench in 2018, but with Dane Coles returning from injury, Harris was once again relegated to the third-choice hooker, for the All Blacks, after the end of the 2018 Rugby Championship.

Breaking his leg during the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup meant that Harris was not considered for selection towards the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Outside of rugby

From 2016 to 2022, Harris pursued a Bachelor's degree at the University of Waikato in Health, Sport, and Human Performance. He majored in Sport Development and Coaching, with a minor in Geography. [8]


In 2023, Harris was employed as a Physical Education teacher at Pāpāmoa College [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand</span>

In 2005, the British & Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing seven matches against first and second division teams from the National Provincial Championship, one match against the New Zealand Maori team, and three test matches against New Zealand. The Lions lost the test series 3-0, the first time in 22 years that they lost every test match on tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keven Mealamu</span> Rugby player

Keven Filipo Mealamu is a former New Zealand 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. He was a key member of 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winning teams, becoming one of only 21 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wyatt Crockett</span> Rugby player

Wyatt William Vogels Crockett is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He played at prop for the Crusaders in Super Rugby, Canterbury and Tasman in the National Provincial Championship, and the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks. Crockett has played in 202 Super Rugby fixtures and is the most-capped Super Rugby player of all time.

Liam James Coltman is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Lyon in Frances's domestic competition Top 14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beauden Barrett</span> New Zealand rugby union player (born 1991)

Beauden John Barrett is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for Japan Rugby League One club Toyota Verblitz and the New Zealand national team.

Benjamin Vainga Charles Tameifuna is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Top 14 club Bordeaux Bègles. Born in New Zealand, he represents Tonga at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brodie Retallick</span> NZ international rugby union player

Brodie Allan Retallick is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, who plays as a lock for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and is part of the Hawke's Bay squad for New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Cane</span> Rugby player

Samuel Jordan Cane is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Super Rugby club Chiefs and captains the New Zealand national team.

Benjamin Camden John Funnell is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a hooker for Canterbury in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Crusaders in the international Super Rugby competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dane Coles</span> Rugby player

Dane Stuart Coles is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Super Rugby club Hurricanes and the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ardie Savea</span> Rugby player

Ardie Suemalo Savea is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a flanker or number 8 for Wellington in the Bunnings NPC, Hurricanes in Super Rugby and international rugby for the New Zealand All Blacks. Savea was a member of New Zealand's 2019 Rugby World Cup squad and a nominee for 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year.

James William Parsons is a New Zealand retired Rugby union player who played as a hooker for the Blues in Super Rugby and North Harbour in the ITM Cup. He has also played two matches for the All Blacks. He is one of just 3 players that have ever become a Blues centurion and Player of the Year

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Codie Taylor</span> Rugby player

Codie Joshua Dane Taylor is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Super Rugby club Crusaders and the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kane Hames</span> Rugby player

Kane Seth Hames is a former New Zealand rugby union player. A prop, he played for the Chiefs and Highlanders in Super Rugby, and represented Tasman from 2015 to 2017 and Bay of Plenty from 2013 to 2014. He played ten matches for the All Blacks in 2016 and 2017. Hames has not played any rugby since 2017, due to injury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anton Lienert-Brown</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Anton Russell Lienert-Brown is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a second five-eighth or centre for the Chiefs in Super Rugby, and Waikato in the Mitre 10 Cup. He made his debut for New Zealand in 2016.

Greg Pleasants-Tate is a New Zealand rugby union player who has played as a hooker for Bay of Plenty, North Harbour, Auckland, Canterbury and Southland in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Blues and Highlanders in the international Super Rugby competition.

John Ricky Riccitelli is a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer who plays as a hooker for New Zealand franchise Blues. In his youth career, he was selected to play in the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championships for New Zealand and took part in Francis Douglas Memorial College first XV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asafo Aumua</span> Rugby player

Asafo Junior Aumua is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for New Zealand franchise Hurricanes and the New Zealand national team. In his youth, he was selected to play in the 2016 and 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championships for New Zealand.

Aidan Ross is an Australia-born New Zealand rugby union player who plays Prop for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition and for the All Blacks internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tupou Vaa'i</span> Rugby player

Tupou Paea'i Okalani Vaa'i is a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer who plays as a lock for the Taranaki Bulls in the Mitre 10 Cup and for the Chiefs in Super Rugby.

References

  1. "Bay of Plenty Steamers Players". Bay of Plenty Rugby. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  2. "Nathan Harris itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  3. "Nathan Harris Chiefs Player Profile". Chiefs Rugby. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Chiefs' rookie hooker takes big step up". Waikato Times. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Crusaders 10–18 Chiefs". South African Rugby Union. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  6. "2012 New Zealand Under 20 squad named". All Blacks.com. 28 April 2012. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  7. "Nathan Harris: I am innocent - Bay of Plenty Times News". NZ Herald. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  8. Harris, Nathan. "Nathan Harris - Physical Education Teacher - PAPAMOA COLLEGE". LinkedIn. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  9. "News | Papamoa College - Inspired Learning. Exciting Futures". www.papamoacollege.school.nz. Retrieved 11 September 2023.