Tom Willis (rugby union, born 1979)

Last updated

Tom Willis
Birth nameThomas Eion Willis
Date of birth (1979-04-20) 20 April 1979 (age 43)
Place of birth Dunedin, New Zealand
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight16 st 5 lb (229 lb; 104 kg)
SchoolKings High School
University Otago University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
All Black No. 1012
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2008–2012 Dragons 63 (10)
Correct as of 2011-06-12
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1999–2003
2004–2007		 Otago
Waikato 		43
26		 (35)
(15)
Super Rugby
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2000–2003
2004–2008		 Highlanders
Chiefs 		23
42		 (0)
(5)
National team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2001-2002 New Zealand 5 (0)

Tom Willis (born 20 April 1979 in Dunedin, New Zealand) is a former New Zealand international rugby union player who played in the hooker position.

Contents

Playing career

New Zealand

Willis made his provincial debut for Otago in 1999 and his Super Rugby debut for the Highlanders the following year, but found playing time difficult to come by in the same sides as incumbent All Black hooker Anton Oliver and fellow rising star Andrew Hore.

Injury to Oliver saw Willis finally see a starting role for the Highlanders in the 2002 Super 12 season, and he impressed enough that he was starting Tri Nations games for the All Blacks following the campaign. However, with Oliver back healthy Willis again found himself on the reserve bench for both the 2003 Super Rugby and NPC seasons. Despite a lack of playing time, he still managed to show his substantial ability in limited minutes - in the 2003 NPC he scored 5 tries despite making only 2 starts in 9 total appearances.

Following the 2003 provincial season, Willis transferred to Waikato and the Chiefs in a bid to get more consistent playing time. However, shortly thereafter he suffered complications following a back injury, which forced him out of rugby for over a year. [1]

After missing the entire 2005 Super 12 season, Willis returned to hold down the starting position at hooker for the Chiefs for another three seasons through 2008.

However, it was as captain of Waikato that he achieved his greatest triumphs, as he led the province to the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup championship as well as a Ranfurly Shield triumph over North Harbour in 2007.

Europe

On 23 April 2008, Willis confirmed he was joining Welsh Celtic League side Newport Gwent Dragons for the following European season. [2]

After arriving in Wales, he was quickly appointed team captain and made 25 appearances in his first season for the club.

Willis retired from rugby in January 2012 due to injury. [3]

International Play

Willis was first selected to the All Blacks for their end of year tour in 2001, where he made starts - and was named team captain - against Ireland A and Scotland A. However, neither of these contests were considered test matches.

After a strong 2002 Super 12 season, he was again selected to the All Blacks for that year's domestic and Tri Nations tests. He made his test debut on 8 June 2002, starting in a 64–10 win over Italy in Hamilton. [4] He would go on to make another four appearances for New Zealand that year.

However, these would be his final international appearances. Injury ruled him out of the 2002 end of year tour, and he was left off the 2003 Rugby World Cup squad. His long injury layoff in 2004-2005 would then ultimately serve to permanently end his international career.

Related Research Articles

Christian Cullen Rugby player

Christian Mathias Cullen is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played most of his rugby at fullback for New Zealand, for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and for Manawatu, Wellington and later Munster at provincial level. He was nicknamed the Paekakariki Express and was considered to be one of the most potent running fullbacks rugby has ever seen. With 46 tries scored in 58 tests, Cullen is the 9th-highest try-scorer in international rugby.

Todd Blackadder is a retired New Zealand rugby union player and professional rugby coach. He captained the national team, the All Blacks 14 times playing a total of 25 games and 12 tests. Blackadder captained the Crusaders to three Super Rugby titles during his time with the franchise while also winning two NPC titles with Canterbury. Blackadder coached the Crusaders for 9 seasons, without winning a title.

Dragons (rugby union) One of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales

Dragons are one of the four professional rugby union regional teams in Wales. They are owned by the Welsh Rugby Union and play their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport and at other grounds around the region. They play in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup/European Rugby Challenge Cup. The region they represent covers an area of southeast Wales including Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen with a total population approaching 600,000 and they are affiliated with a number of semi-professional and amateur clubs throughout the area, including Pontypool RFC, Caerphilly RFC, Cross Keys RFC, Ebbw Vale RFC and Newport RFC.

Robert Brian Skinstad is a former rugby union professional player who has represented the South African national team, the Springboks. He played in the positions of flanker and number eight.

Jimmy Cowan Rugby player

Quinton James Cowan is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He first played for the All Blacks – New Zealand's national team – during the 2004 tour to the United Kingdom and France, and played his last Test match for the side during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Cowan was born in Gore and attended Gore High School. After he left school a strong season for the Mataura Rugby Club saw him selected to play provincially for the Southland Stags in 2000. He was selected for the Highlanders in the 2003 Super 12 season, and continued to play for both the Highlanders and Southland until signing for Gloucester in 2012.

Conrad Smith Rugby player

Conrad Gerard Smith is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player, who played predominantly at centre. He captained the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, and played for New Zealand from 2004 until 2015. He was a key member of New Zealand's 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winning teams. Following the 2015 World Cup he retired from international rugby and took up a contract with Pau in France, before retiring in 2018.

Daniel David Lee is a former New Zealand international rugby union player who played as a halfback.

Mahonri Schwalger Samoan rugby union player

Mahonri Schwalger is a former Samoan professional rugby union footballer who last played in New Zealand for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition and for Counties Manukau in the National Provincial Championship. He captained the Samoan national team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Regan King Rugby player

Regan Matthew King is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a centre. He currently plays for Mid Canterbury in the Heartland Championship and Neath RFC in the Welsh Premier Division. He holds a British passport thanks to his British-born father, Paul King.

Mark Garry 'Hammer' Hammett is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. Having represented Canterbury provincially 76 times, and the Crusaders 81 times and the All Blacks 30 times – including 29 Test matches, Hammett later went on to coach both Canterbury and Crusaders as a forwards/assistant coach. He is currently on the assistant coach of the Highlanders in Super Rugby and the Tasman Makos in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Rene Ranger New Zealand international rugby union player

Rene Mark Nelson Ranger is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for Northland in the Bunnings NPC. Ranger plays the positions of wing and centre.

James Arlidge; born 11 August 1979) is a Japanese international rugby union player. He plays primarily at fly-half.

Royce Kevin Willis was an international rugby union player who represented New Zealand in 12 matches between 1998 and 2002.

Nick Crosswell is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays for Manawatu in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Liam James Coltman is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a hooker for Otago in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship (NPC) and the Highlanders in the international Super Rugby competition.

James Anthony Richard Lentjes is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently for Otago the Bunnings NPC and the Highlanders in Super Rugby. His position is Flanker.

Andrew Makalio is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a hooker for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC and the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition.

Hugh Renton is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC and the Highlanders in Super Rugby.

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.

Pari Pari Matua Parkinson is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC and the Highlanders in Super Rugby. His position of choice is Lock.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.