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All Blacks all broken up as Umaga, Oliver and Blackie say farewell

Three New Zealand teams have now been eliminated from the Super 14, meaning some terrific players have played their final game of Super Rugby.

by Hamish McBrearty on 08 May 2007

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Tana Umaga - Farewell to the All Blacks (Gettyimages.com)

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Two former All Blacks captains, a number of recent All Blacks and some wonderful supporting players are leaving New Zealand shores for big money contracts in England, France and Japan. While some will remain in New Zealand for the international season and then the World Cup, others will join their new clubs soon.

One of the biggest losses for New Zealand rugby is Tana Umaga. He played 74 Tests for the All Blacks, 21 as captain, and will be remembered as one of the fiercest but fairest players in world rugby. Some memorable moments from Umaga include tending to Welsh forward Colin Charvis who had been knocked out in a tackle.

Umaga stopped playing, despite his team being in an attacking position, removed Charvis's mouth-guard and placed him in the recovery position, an incident that is one of the greatest displays of sportsmanship of all time. Umaga will also be remembered for missing almost the entire 2003 Rugby World Cup after injuring his knee in a freak collision with a team-mate just minutes into the All Blacks' first game.

The other former All Blacks captain leaving New Zealand shores is Anton Oliver. Known as a thinking man's rugby player, Oliver was a great competitor on the field and a great ambassador off it. Playing 51 Tests for the All Blacks, 10 as captain, he also created the first father and son captain combination. His father Frank Oliver captained the All Blacks in 1978.

Oliver's long time front row partner, Carl Hayman, will also depart from New Zealand rugby after the World Cup. Hayman is regarded as one of the best tight-head props in the world. He has anchored the Highlanders and All Blacks scrums for a number of year and is also one of the world's best lineout lifters. Hayman played 35 Tests for the All Blacks and became the 1000th All Black in 2001 when he made his debut against Samoa.

Rounding out the Highlanders losses are flanker Josh Blackie who is one of the best flankers never to play for the All Blacks, Samoan international lock Filipo Levi, and prop Clarke Dermody who played two Tests for the All Blacks.

Another high profile All Black heading off shore is Chiefs' half-back Byron Kelleher. A combative and terrier-like half-back, Kelleher began his career playing for Otago and the Highlanders before moving to Waikato and the Chiefs in 2004. He played 44 Tests for the All Blacks and will be remembered for his battles with Crusaders' half-back Justin Marshall. Kelleher and Marshall often shared duties for the All Blacks.

Other top players leaving New Zealand after the World Cup include Crusaders Chris Jack and Aaron Mauger and the Blues' Sam Tuitupou, however these players will play at least one more game in the Super 14 semi finals.

From a fan's perspective, it is sad to see these players go as they have all made such wonderful contributions to New Zealand rugby. I, personally, would like to thank each one of these players for all the wonderful rugby I have seen over the years. New Zealand rugby fans everywhere will miss these players.

What are your memories of these players? Post a comment below or submit an article.

Comments (3)

by charnz clayton ngatai. on May 08, 2007

bye tana thanks for all the stuff you did for new zealand rugby all blacks see ya hope to see you soon.

by Sea_point on May 08, 2007

While he may be remembered for helping a stricken Colin Charvis, he'll also be remembered more recently for his part in the spearing of Brian O'Driscoll during the first few minutes of the first Test of the Lions Tour in 2005 which dislocated O'Driscoll's shoulder and prematurely ended his tour. A blatant act of thuggery which stained an otherwise exemplary career, the biggest shame was that he wasn't man enough to acknowledge that he was in the wrong. Some role model Tana...??