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| Date of birth | 11 September 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Napier, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (14 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sam Giddens (born 11 September 1984, Napier, New Zealand) is a rugby union player who competed professionally in New Zealand and Europe, playing as a centre.
Giddens made his debut for Hawkes Bay during the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup, and spent three seasons for the province as a regular starter, also serving occasionally as a goal-kicker for the squad. He helped the Magpies reach the semi-finals of the Air New Zealand Cup in each of his three years for the team.
For the 2009-10 season, Giddens moved to England, signing with Bristol Rugby of the RFU Championship. After a season in Bristol, he moved to Lyons Piacenza in Italy for 2010-11. [1]
Giddens returned to New Zealand for the 2011 ITM Cup, signing with Otago. He started the first four matches of the season before being ruled out through injury.
The Highlanders is a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Dunedin that compete in Super Rugby. The team was formed in 1996 to represent the lower South Island in the newly formed Super 12 competition, and includes the Otago, North Otago and Southland unions. The Highlanders take their name from the Scottish immigrants that founded the Otago, North Otago, and Southland regions in the 1840s and 1850s.
Ryan Shortland is a former rugby union player who last played for the Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership. Before switching to rugby union, he previously played rugby league in the NRL.
Thomas Simon Maling is a retired New Zealand rugby union footballer and former All Black. His usual playing position was at lock. He played for most of his rugby career in New Zealand for the Otago Highlanders and the All Blacks from 1996 - 2004 before heading overseas to London to play part of one season at Harlequins in 2004 before heading to Japan. He joined the Scarlets at the start of the 2008–09 European season, leaving Suntory Sungoliath in Japan, where he played for three years from 2005 to 2008. In mid-2009, at age 34, Maling hung up his boots and retired from rugby and returned to his native New Zealand to live.
Soane Tongaʻuiha is a Tongan-born, New Zealand-educated, rugby union player and coach. His longest stint was spent with the Northampton Saints, with whom he formed a formidable reputation and rose to prominence, becoming a fan favourite. He has played internationally for Tonga. His position of choice is loose-head prop, although he sometimes plays at tight-head. He is known for his large size and fierce runs.
Tavake Lecanus Liukanasi Manu is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played in the number 8 and occasionally flanker position for Mitre 10 Cup side, Otago. Manu also represented Tonga at international level.
Christopher King is a New Zealand rugby union player
Alando Soakai is a former professional rugby union player from New Zealand. He is currently the head coach of the Wellington Lions in the National Provincial Championship. He is best known for his time with the Highlanders in Super Rugby and Otago in the ITM Cup, and as captain of Otago in their 2009 and 2010 campaigns. He currently serves on the coaching staff of the Kubota Spears in the Japan Rugby League One, the club where he finished his playing career.
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.
James Whitinui Joseph is a New Zealand-born Japanese former rugby union player and current rugby union coach. A flanker, Joseph represented Otago at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1992 to 1995, before representing Japan in 1999. Joseph, now head coach of the Japanese national side, has coached since his retirement, coming through the ranks in New Zealand before his first national stint.
Zachary Robert Guildford is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player who played as a wing most notably for National Provincial Championship club Hawke's Bay and the New Zealand national team.
Kurt Baker is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a fullback or wing for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Colin Richard Slade is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player. He played primarily at first five-eighth, as well as all other backline positions on occasions. He was first selected for the All Blacks in 2009. He was a key member of the 2011 Rugby World Cup winning team. He was also included in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but played in only one match against Namibia. He thus became one of only 44 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions.
Benjamin Robert Smith is a retired New Zealand rugby union player, currently working for Super Rugby side Highlanders' management team. He formerly played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, Otago in the ITM Cup, Pau in the Top 14 and Kobelco Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One.
Chris Noakes is a professional rugby union player.
Liam James Coltman is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Lyon in Frances's domestic competition Top 14.
Doug Tietjens is a former Australian-born New Zealand rugby union player who last played as a flanker for Taranaki in the National Provincial Championship, having shifted north to the province after 45 matches with Manawatu from 2008 to 2012.
Salesi Tu'ipulotu Piutau, often known as Charles Piutau, is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for Japan Rugby League One club Shizuoka Blue Revs.
Gareth Evans is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played as a loose forward for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition, and the Highlanders in Super Rugby.
Aki Seiuli is a New Zealand born rugby union player of Samoan heritage who currently plays as a prop for Dragons and the Samoan national side. He previously played for Glasgow Warriors; and the New Zealand sides Otago - in domestic Mitre 10 Cup - and the Highlanders - in the international Super Rugby competition.
Joe Latta is a New Zealand rugby union player for Suntory Sungoliath in the Top League. His regular playing position is Lock.