Full name | Kane Gregory Thompson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 9 January 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Wellington, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 112 kg (17 st 9 lb; 247 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Wellington College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Kane Gregory Thompson (born 9 January 1982) [1] is a New Zealand-born rugby union coach and former player who played for the Samoa national rugby union team. He played professionally for several teams in New Zealand and in Europe during his 19-year playing career. [2] He retired from playing in 2021, and has since served as head coach for NOLA Gold in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Thompson debuted for the Highlanders in 2006. He showed he was well capable of stepping up to the higher level and he had a strong 2006 season for Southland. In 2007 he represented Manu Samoa at the Rugby World Cup and went on to represent U.S. Dax in the Top 14 in France. Kane represented Samoa at the 2011 Rugby World Cup before taking up a contract with Chiefs in 2012, who became Super Rugby champions in that year.
He played for the Chiefs in the 2012 Super Rugby, joining national teammate Mahonri Schwalger. [3]
On 17 July 2014, Thompson signed for Newcastle Falcons who compete in the English Aviva Premiership from the 2014–15 season. [4]
Kane also represented Samoa in the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.
Thompson served as player-coach for NOLA Gold in Major League Rugby, serving as forwards and defensive coach. He was named head coach in December 2021 ahead of the 2022 season.
Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team that play in Premiership Rugby, England's highest division of rugby union.
Fereti Tuilagi is a Samoan former professional rugby footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. After playing rugby union at international level, he turned professional and played rugby league for English clubs Halifax Blue Sox and St. Helens. He played as a wing or centre and is now retired. His first name is often anglicised to Freddie.
Alan Victor Tait is a former Scottish dual-code rugby footballer, and now coach. He is a defence coach at the Super 6 side Southern Knights. He was previously head coach at Newcastle Falcons and a former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer. He played outside centre for Scotland (RU), and the British and Irish Lions. He played club rugby union for Kelso, Edinburgh and the Newcastle Falcons; and club rugby league for Widnes and Leeds.
Va'aiga Lealuga Tuigamala Pulelua Fesola'i, sometimes known as Inga Tuigamala, was a professional rugby union and rugby league footballer. Born in Samoa, he represented New Zealand in rugby union, winning 19 caps, and later Samoa in both rugby league and rugby union. He played in one rugby league and two rugby union World Cups.
David Fa'alogo is a former professional rugby league footballer played as a prop, second-row and lock in the 2000s and 2010s. He played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Newcastle Knights in the NRL, the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League and the Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Cup. He represented both New Zealand and Samoa at international level.
Patrick Richard Lam is a rugby union coach and former player. He is currently Director of Rugby at Bristol Bears in England's Premiership Rugby.
Kerry Cooper Vuna is a professional rugby footballer who plays on the wing for Newcastle Falcons in Premiership Rugby. He played rugby league as a wing for the New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League competition, before switching to rugby union to play Super Rugby for the Melbourne Rebels.
Carl Joseph Hayman is a retired New Zealand rugby union footballer who played at tighthead prop. Hayman has previously played for the Highlanders in Super Rugby, Otago in the NPC, and Newcastle Falcons in the English Premiership, as well as making 45 appearances for New Zealand at international level. Hayman announced his retirement from professional rugby in January 2015, aged 35. Post retirement Hayman has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Joseph Paulo is a former professional rugby league footballer who last played as a loose forward, second-row and stand-off for Pia in the Elite Two Championship. He has played for both Samoa and the United States at international level.
Tafeaga Junior Sa'u is a professional New Zealand and Samoan rugby league player who plays as a centre for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby (MLR). He also plays for the Keighley Cougars in RFL League 1. He previously played for New Zealand and Samoa at the international level.
Mark Larry Taufua, also known by the nicknames of "Fu", or "Taff", is a Samoan former rugby league footballer who played as a prop and lock. He played for the Newcastle Knights and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL.
Filipo Levi is the former International Rugby Captain for Manu Samoa and has captained teams from a local and international stage since 2000 until 2013. Filipo experience and knowledge is understanding business leaders unique challenges from a local to international context. He is passionate in helping leaders build strong resilient teams and equipping, empowering people to overcome challenges.
Kane Douglas is an Australian professional rugby union footballer who currently plays as a lock for the Bordeaux club in France.
Brodie Allan Retallick is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, who currently plays as a lock for Kobelco Kobe Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One competition. He previously played for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship.
Sauaso "Jesse" Sue is a Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop, lock and second-row forward for the Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League.
William Skelton is an Australian rugby union player, who plays as a lock for La Rochelle in the French Top 14 competition.
Fa'amanu Brown is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback and hooker for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and has represented Samoa and New Zealand at international level. He has also played at five-eighth and lock.
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is a professional rugby league footballer who captains the Gold Coast Titans playing as a lock and prop forward in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for Samoa and Australia at international level.
Charntay Poko is a New Zealand rugby league and union footballer. Primarily a halfback or lock, she is a New Zealand representative. She previously played for the New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership.
Charlotte Scanlan is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer. Her positions are prop, lock and second-row. She previously played for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership.