John Timu (rugby)
John Kakuhura Raymond Timu (born 8 May 1969) is a New Zealand former rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s who achieved international selection for New Zealand in both rugby codes, appearing in 26 tests for the All Blacks in union and nine for the Kiwis in league. Timu's usual position was centre in league and in union he would play at full-back or on the wing.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | John Kakuhura Raymond Timu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 8 May 1969 Dannevirke, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 82 kg (12 st 13 lb; 181 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Full-back or wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby union
Timu played representative rugby union for Otago. He was selected to play for New Zealand in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. Also in 1991 Timu was awarded the Tom French Cup as Māori player of the year. In the 1992 South Africa vs New Zealand rugby union match he played for the All Blacks, scoring a try. He was then selected to go on the 1993 New Zealand rugby union tour of Britain.
Rugby league
Timu commenced his professional rugby league career in 1995 with the newly re-branded Sydney Bulldogs club. In his first season, he was selected to play for the New Zealand national team in the second and third matches of the 1995 Trans-Tasman Test series. Timu played in the centres for the Bulldogs in their victory in the 1995 Winfield Cup Grand Final. He was selected for New Zealand's 1995 Rugby League World Cup squad but didn't play any games due to injury.[1]
During the 1996 Great Britain Lions tour Timu as selected to play for New Zealand at centre in all three Test matches, scoring two tries in the first. Timu was selected to play for New Zealand at centre in the 1997 Anzac Test. After the 1997 Super League season he left the Bulldogs to play in England.
Timu played for the London Broncos at centre in the 1999 Challenge Cup Final.
References
- Whiticker, Alan. "John Timu". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
External links
- John Timu at AllBlacks.com
- Canterbury Bulldogs profile
- NRL points
- Rugby League Project stats
- Timu to quit rugby league
- John Timu at rugbymuseum.co.nz
| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by Steve McDowall |
Tom French Memorial Māori rugby union player of the year 1991 |
Succeeded by Zinzan Brooke |