Sam Henwood

Last updated

Sam Henwood
Full nameSamuel Tamihana Henwood
Date of birth (1991-03-28) 28 March 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth Ōpōtiki, New Zealand
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight107 kg (16 st 12 lb; 236 lb)
School Opotiki College, King's College, Auckland
University Auckland University of Technology
Notable relative(s)Brian Brown
Rugby union career
Position(s) Openside Flanker
Current team Kamaishi Seawaves
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2011–12 Auckland 1 (0)
2014–16 CR Tecnico 25 (115)
2014–2019 Counties Manukau 32 (35)
2016 Chiefs 2 (0)
2018–2019 Hurricanes 10 (0)
2020 NEC Green Rockets 6 (10)
2021– Kamaishi Seawaves 42 (85)
Correct as of 21 February 2021
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2011 New Zealand Universities 2 (0)
2017 Māori All Blacks 1 (0)
Correct as of 21 February 2021

Samuel Tamihana Henwood (born 28 March 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He is nephew of Brian Brown, notable figure in the underbelly of the far north of NZ. He currently plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and Counties Manukau in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup. [1] [2]

Contents

Early career

Born and raised in the small town of Opotiki in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand, Henwood initially turned out for the Bay's youth sides alongside future All Black, Sam Cane. He attended Opotiki College for four years, then moved to Auckland for his final year of high school and attended King's College where he captained their first XV. [3]

Senior career

Henwood debuted for Auckland during the 2011 ITM Cup season, however over the next few years he suffered multiple shoulder injuries which required reconstruction ending two of his seasons prematurely. He made his return to the National Provincial Competition in 2014, playing for the Counties Manukau Steelers. During the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 off-seasons, he played in Portugal for Clube de Tecnico who were coached by his former Counties Manukau teammate, Kane Hancy.

His second stint in Portugal was cut short when a season-ending injury to Mitchell Karpik left a spot open on the Chiefs Super Rugby roster, so he headed to Hamilton and made his super rugby debut in a match against the Force. Overall he managed 2 appearances during the season. [3] [2]

Personal

His wife, Larissa Henwood, played for Brazil in the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup [4] .

References

  1. "Sam Henwood Counties Manukau Steelers Player Profile". Steelers Rugby. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Sam Henwood itsrugby Player Statistics". it's rugby. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Memorable Valentine's for Henwood". Rugby Heaven. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  4. "Meet the Brazil flanker with a Kiwi twang and rugby-playing husband who is the only mum in the squad bringing the samba swagger to the World Cup". rugbyworld. Retrieved 24 August 2025.