Brendan Laney

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Brendan Laney
Personal information
Full name Brendan James Laney
Date of birth November 16 1973 ( 1973-11-16) (age 34)
Place of birth Flag of New Zealand Invercargill, New Zealand
Nickname Chainsaw
School Timaru Boys' High School
Occupation(s)    Professional Rugby Union Player
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position flyhalf, centre, fullback
Provincial/State sides    
Otago Rugby Football Union & South Canterbury Rugby Football Union
Super Rugby Caps (points)
Highlanders


Brendan James Laney, (born 16 November 1973 in Invercargill) is a professional rugby union player. Nicknamed "Chainsaw" for the way he cuts through defences, he is a useful goal kicker. He hails from Southland, New Zealand. He began his professional rugby career at full back for the Highlanders in the then Super 12 (now Super 14). He has played for the Scotland national rugby union team and is now playing for Yamaha Jubilo in Japan.

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[edit] Scotland

He was controversially rushed straight into the Scottish national team by the then national coach, Ian McGeechan just two days after he arrived from New Zealand. This annoyed many ex-Scottish internationals, particularly Gavin Hastings who voiced his feelings publicly, and this was hard for Laney who had hero-worshipped Hastings as a child. Of course he was happy to play international rugby, but the transition was indecently rushed and very awkward for him to cope with. Laney had been billed as Scottish Rugby's saviour.

After the initial controversy died down, however, he became a popular figure with team-mates and fans, through his personality and leadership. He also made his mark with Scotland, setting a new record of 24 points in a Six Nations game, and went on to equal Gavin Hastings’ record of scoring 100 points in just nine Test matches. Perhaps most significantly, he contributed 11 points in the 21-6 defeat of the Springboks at Murrayfield in 2002, Scotland’s first win over a Southern Hemisphere nation in 20 years. His Scotland career was not without disappointment. After heavy criticism, Laney was left out of the Six Nations fixture against Ireland due to the "psychological effect of an injury" and was not to be seen in a Scotland jersey again.

[edit] Edinburgh Rugby

Laney played at flyhalf,centre and fullback for Edinburgh Rugby from 2001 to 2005. He played 76 times and amassed 409 points from 15 tries, 69 penalties, 53 conversions and seven drop-goals.

[edit] Japan

Laney left Edinburgh for Yamaha Jubilo in March 2005.

[edit] External links