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In the game of rugby union, there are 15 players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs. In addition, there may be up to eight replacement players "on the bench", numbered 16–23. Players are not restricted to a single position, although they generally specialise in just one or two that suit their skills and body types. Players that play multiple positions are called "utility players".
Robert Rawiri Hunter-Paul is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer. He has since become a business owner and television pundit, running Xtra Mile Marketing, an inbound and digital marketing company. Robbie retired from playing at the end of the 2011 season following a 19-season career with the Bradford Bulls, Harlequin FC, Huddersfield Giants, Salford City Reds and the Leigh Centurions. He then spent just under 2 years as business development manager at the Huddersfield Giants, and 3 years as CEO at the Bradford Bulls. Robbie played for the New Zealand Kiwis national team from 1997 - 2006. He is the younger brother of former New Zealand Kiwis and England Rugby player Henry Paul.
Ioane Fitu "John" Afoa is a New Zealand professional rugby union player. His position of choice is at prop. Afoa currently plays for the Crusaders in Super Rugby.
Tom Billups is an American former rugby union rugby player, who played for the USA Eagles as an international and Blackheath Rugby Club, Harlequin F.C., and Pontypridd RFC as a professional. After retiring as a player in 1999, he joined the staff of the United States national team and was the head coach from 2001 to 2006. In addition to coaching the Eagles, Billups managed the U.S. national sevens team program and coached the 2005 U.S. sevens team. In 2015 Billups was inducted into U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame, and was the first person to be inducted as both a player and coach. In 2018 Billups became the 14th recipient of the Craig Sweeney Award which was first award in 1979 in memory of former United States national team member and captain, Craig Sweeney. The Sweeney Award is presented to a former national team player who has contributed significantly to the game while displaying exemplary character on and off the field.
David Mefin Davies is a Welsh former rugby union player who played as a hooker for the Ospreys and the Wales national rugby union team.
Geoffrey Toovey, also known by the nickname of "Toovs" or "Tooves", is the former head coach of the Bradford Bulls and former professional rugby league footballer. Toovey played halfback for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, then played as a hooker later in his career at the Northern Eagles. He played 286 first-grade matches in all, and captained Manly to the 1996 ARL premiership and the 1995 and 1997 grand finals. He played in 13 international matches for Australia between 1991 and 1998. Toovey is the former head coach of Manly-Warringah.
Colin Thomas Deans is a former Scotland international rugby union player.
Ewen James Andrew McKenzie is an Australian professional rugby union coach and a former international rugby player. He played for Australia's World Cup winning team in 1991 and earned 51 caps for the Wallabies during his test career. McKenzie was head coach of the Australian team from 2013 to 2014. He has coached in both southern and northern hemispheres, in Super Rugby for the Waratahs and Reds, and in France at Top 14 side Stade Français. During his playing days he was a prop and, in a representative career spanning from 1987 to 1997, he played nine seasons for the NSW Waratahs and two for the ACT Brumbies.
Kevin Stewart Ellis is a Welsh former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain and Wales national representative. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Bridgend RFC, Maesteg RFC, Treorchy RFC, Sale Sharks, London Irish, Cardiff RFC, Pontypool RFC and Ebbw Vale RFC, at representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Warrington Wolves, Workington Town, Gold Coast Chargers, Bridgend Blue Bulls and Celtic Crusaders, as a stand-off, scrum-half, or loose forward.
Zachary Robert Guildford is a New Zealand rugby union player. A wing, he has won 10 test caps for the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, including during their victorious 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign.
Christopher Antony Gray is a former Scottish international rugby player who played most of his club rugby in England. He gained 22 caps for Scotland national rugby union team including five appearances at the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He is qualified as a dentist and helps coach at the school Trent College in Long Eaton.
Karl Franklin Svoboda is a Canadian former rugby union footballer of Czech descent. Svoboda began his rugby career as the Belleville Bulldogs hooker and then played representative rugby with the Ontario Junior XV. In 1981 he scored a try in the final of the Canada Summer Games. He then played with the Ontario Senior Men's Rugby XV, captaining many of the games. Two notable victories came in the national championship over the British Columbia Provincial XV in 1982 and 1995. In 1995, the Ontario Provincial Rugby Team, with Svoboda as captain, was named co-winners of the Ontario Provincial Team of the Year, along with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Tone Kopelani is a former New Zealand rugby union player. In 1997 Kopelani played rugby league in the U19 Super League (Australia) competition for the Penrith Panthers. He was selected for the Junior Kiwis before returning to New Zealand and converting to rugby union. Kopelani made his debut for Canterbury as a flanker in the National Provincial Championship in 1999. He changed his position to hooker in 2001 and went on to play for Canterbury and Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup and for the Crusaders and Hurricanes in the Super 14 Rugby competition. He was also selected for the Junior All Blacks in 2007. In 2008 Kopelani signed with French club CS Bourgoin Jallieu in the Top 14 competition for 3 seasons. In 2011 Kopelani joined FC Grenoble in the Pro D2 competition where they won promotion to the Top 14. In 2012 Kopelani returned to New Zealand and signed with Northland in the ITM Cup.
Otere Black is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a first five-eighth for Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup and the Blues in Super Rugby.
Kevin Moseley is a former Wales international rugby union player. His playing position was as a lock forward. Moseley made eleven appearances for Wales.
Anthony Mark Bennett is a Welsh International rugby union player. He made three appearances for his country, as well as representing Swansea RFC, Cardiff RFC and Neath RFC in the top division of Welsh club rugby, and Bristol RFC in English club rugby. Following his retirement from playing, Bennett became a strength and conditioning coach, holding the position of conditioning coach for the Welsh national team for four years.
Greig Hunter Oliver was a Scottish rugby union player turned development officer.
Kevin Hopkins is a retired Welsh International rugby union player. He made seven appearances for his country, as well as representing Cardiff RFC, Swansea RFC and Neath RFC in the top division of Welsh club rugby, and played twice for the Barbarians invitational side. Following his retirement from playing, Hopkins has held numerous coaching positions.
John Allan is a former Scotland international rugby union player; and later a former South Africa international rugby union player. He played as a hooker.
Dick John Muir is a South African former rugby union player, and now the interim head coach of Netherlands national rugby union team.