Rico Gear

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Rico Gear
Date of birth	February 26, 1978 (age 29)
Height	1.79 m
Weight	92 kg
Nickname	Sneaks
Rugby union career
Position	Wing Centre
All Black No.	1043
Provincial/State sides		Caps	(points)
1997	Tasman Nelson Bays North Harbour Bay of Plenty Auckland Poverty Bay	3 3 24 10 5 10
correct as of 1 November 2006.
Super Rugby
2005-present 2004 2002-2003 2001 1999-2000	Crusaders Blues Highlanders Crusaders Blues
Current local club:	Helensville
correct as of 1 November 2006.
National team(s)
2004-present 2002-2005	New Zealand Māori	17	(45)
correct as of 1 November 2006.
7's National teams		Tournaments
1998-2001	New Zealand	9
correct as of 1 November 2006.

Rico"Levi" Gear (born 26 February 1978 in Gisborne) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He is a specialist right wing but can also cover midfield positions. Gear was educated at Gisborne Boys' High; he also studied anthropology at Massey University with an emphasis on Māoridom and Māori language for two years.

Gear made his provincial debut in 1997, playing for Poverty Bay against King Country. He has since played for provincial sides; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, North Harbour and Nelson Bays. He made his Super 12 debut for the Auckland Blues in 1999 against the Queensland Reds. He also had a stint with the Highlanders, however his career really ignited when he went to the Crusaders at the end of the 2004 season. Gear played every game in the 2005 season, 12 on the wing and one game at centre, for the Crusaders and he scored 15 times for the 2005 champions. He was also named Rebel Sport Super 12 player of the Year and the Tom French Memorial Māori Player of the Year.

Gear made his international debut on July 10, 2004 in a match against the Pacific Islanders, where he also scored a try. He went on to play in numerous matches against the British and Irish Lions in their 2005 tour of New Zealand. He was first choice right wing for the Crusaders in the 2006 Super 14 season. Gear has a younger brother Hosea Gear who plays wing for the Wellington Hurricanes.

Province: Tasman

Provincial Caps: 55 (3 Tasman, 3 Nelson Bays, 24 North Harbour, 10 Bay of Plenty, 5 Auckland, 10 Poverty Bay)

Provincial Debut: 1997 v King Country (Poverty Bay)

Super 14 Caps: 68

Super 14 Points: 165 (33t)

Super 14 Debut: 1999 v Reds (Blues)

Test Caps: 17

Test Points: 45 (9t)

Test Debut: 2004 v Pacific Islanders

[edit] External links

v • d • e New Zealand squad - 2006 Tri Nations
Forwards:	Collins • Eaton • Hayman • Hore • Jack • McCaw (c) • Masoe • Mealamu • Oliver • Rawlinson • Somerville • So'oialo • Thorne • Tialata • Williams • Woodcock
Backs:	Carter • Cowan • Gear • Hamilton • Howlett • Kelleher • McAlister • MacDonald • Mauger • Muliaina • Rokocoko • Sivivatu • Toeava • Tuitupou • Weepu
Coach:	Henry