Title: Umaga Confirms Retirement From the All Blacks
Adolf Chiang - January 10, 2006 06:42 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| Umaga confirms retirement 10.01.06 1.10pm All Blacks captain Tana Umaga this afternoon confirmed his retirement from test rugby. The 74-test veteran said he would continue playing in the Super 14 competition for the Hurricanes. Umaga's plan to retire was revealed by the New Zealand Herald last November. British newspapers and websites earlier this week reported there was strong interest in him from English clubs Harlequins and Leicester. Umaga, 32, leaves the All Blacks following one of their most successful seasons which included a series win against the Lions, Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations victories and the more recent Grand Slam win. The All Blacks won 11 of 12 tests and have been chosen as Halberg sports team of the year finalists. Umaga has personally gained a string of achievements during his rugby career including everything from equal-highest number of tries in a season for New Zealand players in a Super 12 season, to player of the year and the awarding of an international fair play trophy. He was the first New Zealander to win the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy after attending to Welsh player Colin Charvis when he was knocked out during a test in Hamilton. In 2004 Umaga became the first Samoan New Zealander to captain the All Blacks in a test, and in 2005 brought up 100 Super 12 caps with the Hurricanes. He started his representative rugby career with the Wellington NPC side in 1994 and had before that played rugby league, including a stint for the New Zealand Under-19 team. He will join the Hurricanes Super 14 squad later this month in preparation for the coming season. - NZPA |
Hauser - January 10, 2006 06:59 AM (GMT)
It's better to burn out than to fade away, he should've fled the country in a blaze of glory. Nah but it's actually good, leaving at the peak of his career.
Adolf Chiang - January 10, 2006 07:01 AM (GMT)
How long is he going to remain in Super 14 rugby? His retirements has left a huge skill vaccum to fill.
JPAR - January 10, 2006 09:47 AM (GMT)
We seem to be the dominant force in rugby, and i hopefully don't think that'l change with him leaving. Hopefully we have enough time before the world cup to find a great replacement. We have to fucking win it, i'm so sick of this choking shit.
Hauser - January 10, 2006 10:56 AM (GMT)
Don't worry. Like every single fucking world cup, we will have gone downhill and failed.
mrt - January 10, 2006 11:28 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Hauser @ Jan 10 2006, 11:56 PM) |
| Don't worry. Like every single fucking world cup, we will have gone downhill and failed. |
Indeed. It would be rude to break with tradition.
Dr_Steve - January 11, 2006 12:27 AM (GMT)
you know who else is retiered?
JOHN LENNON!!!!!!!!!11!!!ONEONE!!!
[DOHTML]<embed src="http://www.anitasplace.com/music/jealousguy.mid" autostart="true" hidden="true" repeat="true">[/DOHTML]
JOHN LENNON!!!!!!!!!11!!!ONEONE!!!
[DOHTML]<embed src="http://www.anitasplace.com/music/jealousguy.mid" autostart="true" hidden="true" repeat="true">[/DOHTML]
Happy Ahmed - January 11, 2006 12:43 AM (GMT)
I am never going to get tired of this.
Miss_Illusioned - January 12, 2006 10:24 AM (GMT)
Me either
Boy Wonder - January 12, 2006 10:31 AM (GMT)
Not really related to Umaga or John Lennon but I didnt know where else to put it.
Did anyone know that two girls got thrown out of the last cricket one dayer at Napier cos when the camera zoomed in on them they started kissing? I just found out today and thought it was quite :chiang: like.
Did anyone know that two girls got thrown out of the last cricket one dayer at Napier cos when the camera zoomed in on them they started kissing? I just found out today and thought it was quite :chiang: like.
Miss_Illusioned - January 12, 2006 10:34 AM (GMT)
Yea that happened a couple of days ago. I dont' think they were thrown out. I believe they were told to stop otherwise they would be thrown out. One of the women was actualy a heterosexual who got drunk and did it on the spur of the moment. Security guards reckon they stopped it because it may disrupt the crowd or something