Nick White (rugby union)

Nick White (born 1 May 1974) is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. White won several NPC trophies with Auckland and Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders and the Blues. He played as a Prop.

Nick White
Date of birth (1974-05-01) 1 May 1974 (age 50)
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight114 kg (251 lb)
SchoolKings College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1996-1999 Northland 36 ()
2000-2008 Auckland 84 ()
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
1999-2001 Blues 31 ()
2002 Crusaders 1 ()
2003 Blues ()
2004 & 2006 Highlanders ()
2007-2009 Blues ()
Coaching career
Years Team
2016-2017 Auckland

Biography edit

White also played XI cricket for Kings College as a useful left-arm medium pacer. During his career White was also known for his goal kicking, not a skill often attributed to props.

Career edit

Provincial edit

White made his debut for Northland in 1996. Wanting to play for a larger union White requested a transfer away from Northland, with Auckland being the final destination.[1] This move proved personally beneficial for White who won NPC titles in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Super Rugby edit

White made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues in 1999 (vs. Brumbies) playing a total of 31 games for the region.[2]

White played one game for the Crusaders debuting on 12 March 2002 (vs. Stormers) alongside teammate Johnny Leo'o.[3] Despite only playing a single game, White was part of the legendary 2002 Crusaders team which played the entire season unbeaten. White returned to the Blues following his only season at the Crusaders.[4] In his return to the Blues, they won the 2003 title and despite not playing in either final over the past two years he was part of back-to-back winning teams.

Following a year without playing Super Rugby in 2005, White returned in 2006 this time with the Highlanders.[5]

White was forced to retire in 2009 due to requiring a hip replacement.[2]

Representative teams edit

White played for New Zealand A in 2000.[6]

Coaching edit

Following his retirement from playing White took up various coaching roles with the Blues including coaching the development team and scrum coach for the first team.[7] He was made an assistant coach for Auckland in 2012.[8] In 2016 White was announced the head coach for Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup.[8] Following the end of the 2017 season White left the position.[9] White is currently the scrum coach for the Chiefs.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ Rattue, Chris (30 June 2000). "Rugby: White set to prop up Auckland". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Nick White". Blues. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  3. ^ "The Crusaders who have gone before: 1996-2017". Crusaders. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Crusaders make four changes to line-up". New Zealand Herald. 29 October 2002. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  5. ^ "2006 Rebel Sport Super 14 squads announced". All Blacks. 28 October 2005. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  6. ^ Turner, Huw (26 October 2000). "Auckland's Nick White called up by New Zealand A". ESPN. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  7. ^ a b Goile, Aaron (12 April 2018). "Former Auckland coach Nick White replaces Carl Hoeft as Chiefs' scrum mentor". Stuff. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Nick White named Auckland rugby coach". Stuff. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  9. ^ "'I've had my crack' - Auckland coach leaving post at end of team's woeful season". One News Now. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2018.