Tom Taylor (rugby union)

Thomas James Taylor (born 11 March 1989) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played as a second five-eighth or first five-eighth for the Crusaders in Super Rugby.[1] and Canterbury in the ITM Cup. He can also play fullback.

Tom Taylor
Birth nameThomas James Taylor
Date of birth (1989-03-11) 11 March 1989
Place of birthChristchurch, New Zealand
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight90 kg (14 st 2 lb; 198 lb)
SchoolBurnside High School
Notable relative(s)Warwick Taylor (father)
Murray Taylor (uncle)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Second five-eighth
First five-eighth
Fullback
All Black No. 1125
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015−16
2016—		 Toulon
Pau		 16
54		 (26)
(455)
Correct as of 15 September 2018
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–15 Canterbury 42 (512)
Correct as of 26 October 2015
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–15 Crusaders 58 (272)
Correct as of 214 June 2015
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013 New Zealand 3 (14)
Correct as of 4 November 2013

He made his debut for the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 2013.

Career

In the 2009, affiliated with the Canterbury ITM side,[2] Taylor was involved in the champion New Zealand Under 20 team[3] along with Zac Guildford[4] and captain Aaron Cruden.[5]

In 2011 Taylor debuted for Canterbury against North Otago.[6] He trained with the Crusaders[7] and was part of the Canterbury squad that went on to win that year's ITM Cup Championship final against Waikato.[3]

In November 2011 he was named in the Crusaders squad[7] for 2012. In his first start, against the Cheetahs in March 2012, Taylor opened the Crusaders scoring with a penalty six minutes in. He had a successful game with the boot and ended up converting the game's final try, for Crusaders to win 28–21.[8] The next week, playing at second five-eighth against the Lions,[9] he kicked two penalties and three conversions and the Crusaders won 23–13.[9] On 14 April he was back at first five-eighth to help the Crusaders end the Stormers unbeaten run.[10] Taylor scored a try, converted it, and kicked eight penalties from eight attempts.

In 2013, Taylor made his debut for the All Blacks, starting ahead of Colin Slade at first five-eighth in the second Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup match against Australia after injuries to Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett and Dan Carter. He kicked four penalty goals and a conversion goal (14 points) to help the All Blacks to a 27–16 win at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.[11]

In March 2015, Taylor announced that he would join French Top 14 Rugby Club Bayonne.[12]

Personal life

In 2010 Taylor was studying towards his Bachelor of Science in geography at the University of Canterbury.[3]

Taylor's relatives include father Warwick, a second five-eighth,[7] who played for Canterbury from 1982 to 1990 and the All Blacks from 1983 to 1988, and uncle Murray Taylor, a first five-eighth who played for the All Blacks[3] in 1979 and 1980.

References
  1. "Taylor leads Crusaders to victory". NZ Herald. APN Holdings. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  2. Davidson, Martin (22 June 2009). "NZ retain world under-20 rugby title". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  3. "Directory | Crusaders".
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "NZ retain world under-20 rugby title".
  6. "Canterbury Rugby Union - Home".
  7. "Crusaders 2012 Squad announced" (Press release). CRFU. 2 November 2011. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  8. "Crusaders welcomed home with a win" (Press release). CRFU. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  9. "Crusaders tame Lions" (Press release). CRFU. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  10. "Crusaders discipline ends Stormers unbeaten run" (Press release). CRFU. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  11. Hinton, Marc (24 August 2013). "All Blacks just too strong for Wallabies". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  12. "Crusader Tom Taylor signs with French Top 14 club". TVNZ.
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