Dion Waller

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Dion Alan George Waller (born January 6, 1974 in Turangi) is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played for the Wellington Lions, Hurricanes, New Zealand Maori and All Blacks. He was one of the leading locks in New Zealand rugby at provincial level with great lineout attributes, but never got a real oppurtunity to play internationally due in part to the quality of locks around and his many disciplinary lapses (of which he led the standings of red and yellow cards).

He made his debut for King Country in 1995. He debuted for the New Zealand Maori in 1996 and went on to collect 14 caps from then till his departure of New Zealand in 2002. Waller played for the now defunct Central Vikings 25 times and following their collapse moved to Wellington, between 1999 and 2002 he played 43 matches.

The All Blacks never really beckoned Waller as he only made 3 appearances (1 test), even then he was brought along only after Brad Thorn withdrew.

One of his most well-known feats was the blatant professional foul in the dying minutes of the 2000 NPC final, sealing the championship for Wellington.^[1]