Andy Haden

Andrew Maxwell Haden (26 September 1950 – 29 July 2020) was a New Zealand rugby union player and All Black captain. He played at lock for Auckland and New Zealand from 1972 until 1985. He also played club rugby in the United Kingdom and Italy.

Andy Haden
Birth nameAndrew Maxwell Haden
Date of birth(1950-09-26)26 September 1950
Place of birthWanganui, New Zealand
Date of death29 July 2020(2020-07-29) (aged 69)
Place of deathAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight112 kg (247 lb)
SchoolWanganui Boys' College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
All Black No. 716
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1972–1985 New Zealand 41 (8)

Life and career

Haden was born in Wanganui on 26 September 1950. He attended Wanganui Boys' College. He made his All Black debut in 1972, and his Test debut against the British Lions in 1977, going on to make 41 Test appearances and scoring two tries.[1] Of those 41 appearances, 8 were as captain of the All Blacks.[2] Haden was noted for his powerful scrummage skills and for his imposing presence at the lineout.[3] He played club rugby for Auckland, Harlequins in London and Algida Rome in Italy.[4] Off the field, he published his autobiography, Boots ’n All, in 1983.[5] By receiving royalties from the book, he ostensibly tested the sport's strict amateurism rules in force back then. He ultimately prevailed, however, by claiming that being a writer was his profession.[3]

Haden was a controversial player,[6] who was accused of cheating[7] and unsporting conduct.[8][9] The most infamous occurrence of this happened in a match against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park in 1978. The score was 12–10 in Wales's favour, when Haden and another New Zealand player, Frank Oliver, suddenly fell to the ground as if pushed.[10] The referee awarded a penalty in the dying moments of the match, which Brian McKechnie kicked, winning the game for New Zealand. Later, Welsh legend J. P. R. Williams wrote that Haden should have been sent off. Despite the controversy however, the referee subsequently stated that the penalty had actually been awarded for an actual infringement against Oliver and not the Haden 'dive' as was thought. Haden did not, however, deny that the attempts to cheat the referee were pre-planned, something also confirmed by his captain Graham Mourie.[11] The match happened on the same day as the annual 'Miss World' competition, which prompted Welsh cartoonist Gren to create a picture of the 'Miss World' event, but with Miss New Zealand lying on the floor, pretending to have been pushed.[12] Haden made his last Test appearance in 1985 against Argentina.[1]

Later years

Haden was an agent for various celebrities, including Rachel Hunter.[2] He was given the honorary position of Rugby World Cup Ambassador in 2010, but resigned the post after making controversial statements about a racial quota he alleged the Crusaders to be operating, calling Polynesians "darkies", and then suggesting women raped by sports stars may be partly to blame.[13][14]

In 2003, Haden announced that he was beginning chemotherapy for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.[15] He overcame this bout of illness, but in February 2020 was diagnosed with lymphoma.[16] He consequently died of lymphoma on 29 July 2020, at his home in Auckland. He was 69 years old.[2][16]

References
  1. "New Zealand Rugby pays tribute to Andy Haden". New Zealand Rugby. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  2. McMorran, Steve (29 July 2020). "All Blacks lock Haden, known for lineout dive, dies aged 69". Associated Press. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  3. "Andy Haden: New Zealand mourns death of trailblazing former All Blacks captain". The Guardian. London. Reuters. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  4. "All Blacks great Andy Haden gravely ill". Otago Daily Times. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  5. Haden, Andy (1983). Boots 'n All!. Rugby Press. ISBN 9780908630134.
  6. Johnstone, Duncan (28 May 2010). "Andy Haden oversteps the mark – again". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  7. Godwin, Hugh (18 October 1998). "Rugby Union: Haden 'dived' to cheat the Welsh". The Independent. London. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  8. Pickup, Oliver (20 September 2013). "Sport's biggest cheats: 10 instances of notorious unsporting behaviour". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  9. Smith, Tony (29 May 2010). "Quota 'claptrap' par for Haden's course". The Press. Christchurch. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  10. Deane, Steve (7 November 2008). "Rugby's 10 worst refereeing howlers". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  11. "All Blacks seal controversial Welsh victory". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  12. Morris, Dai; Williams, Martyn (28 November 2012). Dai Morris: Shadow. Y Lolfa. p. 73. ISBN 9781847716538.
  13. Cheng, Derek; Tiffen, Rachel (10 July 2010). "Haden to be axed for rape comments". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  14. "Haden resigns as RWC ambassador". The New Zealand Herald. 10 July 2010.
  15. "Rugby: Former All Black Haden fighting cancer". The New Zealand Herald. 22 September 2003. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  16. "Rugby: All Blacks legend Andy Haden loses battle with cancer". The New Zealand Herald. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
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