Header image  
Find out whats on when and where in New Zealand  
  HOME Rugby World Cup Tri-Nations ITM Cup IRB Sevens Internationals Super 14::
   
 
All Blacks
 
large product photo  

About

The All Blacks represent New Zealand in rugby union, which is regarded as the country's national sport.They were winners of the inaugrual world cup and are the only international rugby team with a positive winning record against every other test nation they have ever played. They have the highest match-win ratio of close to 75 percent and rank as the number one team in the world for the most period of time in IRB world rankings. More than half of the top 20 rugby union test playing nations have never beaten New Zealand in over 100 years of competition.

The All Blacks compete annually with Australia (the Wallabies) and South Africa (the Springboks) in the Tri-Nations Series, and have been Tri-Nations champions nine times in the tournament's 14-year history. They hold the Bledisloe Cup which they contest annually with Australia and have three times completed a Grand Slam (in 1978, 2005 and 2008) defeating all four Home Nations during one tour.

Currently the number one ranked team in the IRB World Rankings they were named the International Rugby Board (IRB) Team of the Year in 2005, 2006 and 2008. Fifteen former All Blacks have been inducted into the International Hall of Fame.

 
       
 

Current All Black Squad

 

 

Forwards
Adam Thomson Aled de Malmanche
Anthony Boric Ben Franks
Brad Thorn Jerome Kaino
Keven Mealamu Kieran Read
Neemia Tialata Owen Franks
Richie McCaw Samuel Whitelock
Tom Donnelly Tony Woodcock
Victor Vito

Backs
Aaron Cruden Benson Stanley
Conrad Smith Cory Jane
Dan Carter Israel Dagg
Jimmy Cowan Josevata Rokocoko
Malili Muliaina Piri Weepu
Rene Ranger Richard Kahui
Zachary Guildford


Player Profiles - Piri Weepu


Piri Weepu claimed a spot on the international stage in 2005, pulling on the black jersey for the All Blacks, Junior All Blacks and New Zealand Maori.

Position:

Halfback

Born:

07/09/1983 Lower Hutt

Physical:

1.78m, 94kg

Test Debut:

20/11/04 v Wales at Cardiff

Test Caps:

37

Test Points:

39

Provincial Team:

Wellington

Provincial Debut:

2003 v Otago

Provincial Caps:

30

Provincial Points:

94 (1try, 19conv, 17pen)

Super 14 Team:

Hurricanes

Super 14 Debut:

2004 v Bulls

Super 14 Caps:

36

Super 14 Points:

25 (1try, 4conv, 4pen)
Piri Weepu

 

  

Piri Weepu claimed a spot on the international stage in 2005, pulling on the black jersey for the All Blacks, Junior All Blacks and New Zealand Maori. 

After rejoining the All Blacks for the 2005 Philips Tri Nations Series, Weepu was a stand-out performer, scoring his first Test try against Australia at Sydney and then playing strongly in the crucial match-up with South Africa at Dunedin. 

He then played in three matches on the All Blacks end-of-year tour, earning the starters’ jersey against Ireland and Scotland. 

Unusually for a halfback, Weepu also provides a useful goal-kicking option: he kicked 53 points (with a 91 percent success rate) for the Hurricanes during the 2007 Rebel Sport Super 14, during which he spent some time in the No 10 jersey. 

In 2006 he landed a crucial penalty in the Hurricanes’ Super 14 semifinal victory over the Waratahs and a second for the season in the Super 14 final. 

Weepu played 14 games for the Hurricanes in 2008 and scored 32 points.

Career Comments:

• Played in all three matches for the Junior All Blacks on their Australian Tour in 2005, starting the second international against Australia A.
• Started both New Zealand Maori matches in 2005.
• Converted the try he scored for the All Blacks against the Barbarians in 2004.
• Started 2004 season as back-up halfback for the Hurricanes and ended it starting for the All Blacks at Millennium Stadium.
• Took on the goal-kicking role for Wellington in the 2004 Air New Zealand NPC, and his six penalty goals against Waikato equalled the Wellington record for penalties in a match.
• Played for the New Zealand Under 21 indoor netball team.

New Zealand Representative Teams:

New Zealand Under 21 in 2004
New Zealand Maori in 2005, 2008
All Blacks in 2004-2009
Junior All Blacks in 2005