Hayden Parker

Hayden John Parker (born 19 November 1990) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a first five-eighth for the Japanese based HITO-Communications Sunwolves in Super Rugby and Otago in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup.[1][2][3][4]

Hayden Parker
Parker playing for the Sunwolves, May 2018
Full nameHayden John Parker
Date of birth (1990-11-19) 19 November 1990
Place of birthOamaru, New Zealand
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight84 kg (185 lb; 13 st 3 lb)
SchoolOtago Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth
Current team Sunwolves, Kobelco Steelers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2017 Otago 47 (442)
2013–2016 Highlanders 30 (101)
2015–2016 Panasonic Wild Knights 7 (80)
2018– Sunwolves 22 (248)
2018– Kobelco Steelers 4 (16)
Correct as of 19 April 2019
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010 New Zealand U20 5 (25)
Correct as of 19 April 2019

Early career

Born in Oamaru, the largest town in the district of North Otago on New Zealand's South Island, Parker was raised on his family's dairy and beef farm in the small community of Kurow 60 km to the north-west of his birthplace. He later headed south to Dunedin to attend the prestigious Otago Boys' High School and played first XV rugby for them. After graduating from high school, he began playing for the Taieri Eels in Dunedin's Premier club rugby competition.[5]

Senior career

Parker first played provincial rugby at the age of 19, debuting in a match against Taranaki on 26 August 2010. The season was a miserable one for Otago, who finished 14th and last, consigning themselves to a place in the newly formed Championship division for 2011, while the match against Taranaki was to be Parker's sole appearance for the season. He played 6 times the following year to help Otago to 3rd place on the Championship log, which saw them miss out on a playoff place only due to the shortened domestic season needed to accommodate the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but by 2012, he had become his province's first choice in the number 10 shirt. He played all 12 games for the Razorbacks as they made it to the final of the Championship playoffs before going down to Counties Manukau by a score of 41-16.

Parker continued to be a regular in Otago's starting XV through 2013 and 2014, playing 21 times across the 2 years as his side finished 2nd and 6th respectively on the log. He sat out the 2015 ITM Cup after undergoing surgery on a long-standing shoulder injury, however at the tournament's conclusion, back to full fitness, he headed to Japan to take up a short-term contract with Top League side the Panasonic Wild Knights. Originally a back-up to experienced Australian number 10, Berrick Barnes, Parker took over the reins following Barnes' injury and kept his place in the side as the Wild Knights defeated the Toshiba Brave Lupus in the final to lift their 3rd Top League title in as many years.[2][5][6][7][8]

Returning to Otago for the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup, an ACL knee injury sustained in training with the Highlanders earlier in the year ruled him out of the entire campaign, and he was left to kick his heels as the Razorbacks topped the Championship log before a surprising defeat at home to North Harbour in the playoff final consigned them to another season of championship rugby in 2017.[9]

Super Rugby

After an excellent 2012 domestic season with Otago, it was announced that Parker would join Dunedin-based Super Rugby side, the Highlanders for the 2013 Super Rugby season.[10] Facing tough competition from future All Black Lima Sopoaga to be back up to the experienced Colin Slade, Parker acquitted himself well, playing 10 times, including 3 starts as well as kicking 29 points as the Highlanders finished a disappointing 14th out 15 teams.

Slade departed for the Crusaders ahead of the 2014 Super Rugby season, but Parker once again found himself playing back up, this time to Sopoaga. He featured 11 times but started only 3 games as the Highlanders finished in 6th spot on the log to earn a place in the playoffs here they were eliminated by the Sharks at the quarter final stage.

2015 would prove to be a historic year for the Highlanders, lifting the Super Rugby title for the first time in their history following a 21-14 victory over the Hurricanes in the final. Unfortunately for Parker, a shoulder injury which required surgery, limited him to just a solitary appearance and he had to watch from the sidelines as his teammates celebrated their great success.

Following a 3-month loan spell in Japan with the Panasonic Wild Knights, Parker returned ready to go in 2016 Super Rugby season, however with Sopoaga firmly entrenched as the franchise's first choice in the first five-eighth role, he once again found game time difficult to come by, starting just once and making a total of 8 appearances as the Highlanders surrendered their Super Rugby title, going down to the Lions in the semi-finals. A knee injury ruled him out of the latter half of the Super Rugby season and the whole of New Zealand's 2016 domestic season, however, despite this, new Highlanders head-coach, Tony Brown who had worked with Parker at domestic level, retained him in the squad for his first year in charge.[2][4][9]

International

Parker was a member of the New Zealand Under-20 side which won the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina, scoring 25 points in 5 games which included 2 conversions in the 62-17 victory over Australia in the final.[11][12]

Career Honours

New Zealand Under-20

Highlanders

Panasonic Wild Knights

Super Rugby statistics
As of 12 January 2017[2]
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2013 Highlanders103727004803200
2014 Highlanders1138361151025100
2015 Highlanders101170010300
2016 Highlanders81714603301500
2018 Sunwolves1099
Total3072379411222010100

References
  1. "Hayden Parker Otago Player Profile". Otago Rugby. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  2. "Hayden Parker itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  3. "Hayden Parker Highlanders Player Profile". Highlanders Rugby. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  4. "Highlanders 2017 Squad Guide" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  5. "Hayden Parker perfects closer role for Highlanders as Ben Smith returns". Rugby Heaven. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  6. "2015年度　新加入選手（追加）のお知らせ" (Press release) (in Japanese). Panasonic Wild Knights. 29 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  7. "Rugby: Hayden Parker to play in Japan". Otago Daily Times. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  8. "Rugby: Highlanders' Parker stars for Japanese team". Otago Daily Times. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  9. "Rugby: Renton's season looks to be over". Otago Daily Times. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  10. "Highlanders name 2013 squad". Radio Sport NZ. 31 October 2012. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  11. "New Zealand Under 20 squad named". All Blacks. 29 April 2010. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  12. "Hayden Parker New Zealand Under 20 Player Profile". All Blacks. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
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