James Arlidge

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James Arlidge
Personal information
Full name	James Arlidge
Date of birth	August 11, 1979 (1979-08-11) (age 28)
Place of birth	Hamilton, New Zealand
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	14 st 6 lb (92 kg)
Nickname	Pebbles
School	Dilwoth School, Auckland
College	Auckland University
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Fullback,Centre, Outside Half
Amateur clubs
	Pakuranga United
Professional clubs		Caps	(points)
2004-2007 2008-	Docomo Kansai Newport Gwent Dragons	(?)
Provincial/State sides
2000-2002 2001 2003	Auckland Northland Otago	(?) (?) (?)
Super Rugby
2000-2002 2003	Blues Highlanders	15 (?)	(117)
National team(s)
2007- 2003	Japan NZ Maori		3 (?)

James Arlidge (ジェームス Arlidge) (born 11 August 1979 in Hamilton, New Zealand is a Japan rugby union player. He plays primarily at first five-eighths (fly-half).

[edit] Club Career

Unusually he made his Super rugby debt for the Auckland Blues, prior to making his first start in provincial rugby, making the step from junior rugby with Pakuranga and Auckland Colts, due to the then Blues first choice number half Carlos Spencer being injured. Later in 2002 Alridge would go onto make his debut for Auckland in New Zealand's NPC Tournament^[1].

In 2001 having started the NPC season with Auckland, Arlidge would spend the majority of the season on loan with another side in the Blues franchise, Northland. After another season back with Auckland and the Blues, Arlidge opted to to sign for South Island side The Highlanders for the 2003 Super 12 season, as well as playing his NPC rugby with Otago.^[2]

After a single season in Dunedin, Arlidge began a four year stint in Japan with Osaka based club NTT DoCoMo Kansai. Having been listed by the Japansese Rugby Union as being unaffiliated to a club^[3], on 5th May 2008 The South Wales Argus quoted new Newport Gwent Dragons signing Tom Willis as "looking forward to joining forces with his compatriots and former Highlanders team-mates, including James Arlidge, in Dragons colours next season.".^[4]

[edit] International

Prior to leaving New Zealand, Arlidge made his New Zealand Maori debut, against a Canada All Stars side, on their 2003 North America tour. ^[5]

Having qualified for Japan on residency grounds, Arlidge was named by new "Cherry Blossoms" coach and fellow New Zealander John Kirwan's first squad. His test debut came in an emphatic 82-0 win over South Korea in Tokyo^[6], scoring two tries and converting all of his ten conversions. Having looked a certainty for a berth in the 2007 World Cup squad, a fractured leg obtained against a Classic All Blacks side forced Arlidge onto the sidelines,^[7] until this seasons Asian Nations.

[edit] References