| Date of birth | 8 January 1989 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Palmerston North | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Weight | 82 kg (12 st 13 lb) | ||
| School | Palmerston North Boys' High School | ||
| University | Massey University | ||
| Notable relative(s) | Mark Heginbotham | ||
| Occupation(s) | Professional rugby union player | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Fly-half | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| College Old Boys | |||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2008–present | Manawatu | ||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2010 – | All Blacks | 9 | 10 |
Aaron Cruden (born 8 January 1989) is a World Cup winning New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays for Manawatu Turbos in the National Provincial Championship, Chiefs in the Super 15 Competition and is an All Blacks international. Cruden's position is first five-eighth/fly-half. On 12 June 2010, Cruden made his debut for the All Blacks in a test match against Ireland in New Plymouth, replacing Dan Carter 13 minutes into the second half.
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Cruden was born in Palmerston North and attended Palmerston North Boys' High School. He captained the 2006 Palmerston North Boys' High School 1st XV which included the likes of Kurt Baker and Andre Taylor.[1]
He was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 19, which necessitated the removal of one of his testicles, and is said to have cost him a Super 14 contract in 2009. The cancer has since gone into remission.[2]
Cruden has two brothers, Kurtrus and Jarrad. Jarrad currently attends Palmerston North Boys' High School.
Cruden made his provincial debut for Manawatu Turbos in 2008 and captained New Zealand to the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship title in 2009 in Japan, as well as being named IRB Junior Player of the Year 2009.[3]
Cruden made his Hurricanes debut on 29 January 2010 against the Brumbies in Porirua.[4] On 20 February 2010, Cruden scored his first Super Rugby points, when he converted a try in the Hurricanes' 47–22 win over Western Force at the Westpac Stadium.[5] On 24 April 2010, Cruden scored his first try for the Hurricanes in the 33–31 success against the Highlanders in Dunedin.[6]
On 14 July 2011, it was confirmed that Cruden had signed on for the Super 15 franchise Chiefs for the 2012 season.[7] Cruden stated that it was his relationship with new Chiefs coach Dave Rennie that swayed his decision to move north from the Hurricanes and set up base in Hamilton for 2012.[8]
On 30 May 2010, Cruden was named as one of four new caps in the All Blacks squad to play test matches against Ireland and Wales.[9] On 12 June 2010, Cruden made his All Blacks debut in the 66–28 victory over Ireland in New Plymouth, replacing Dan Carter in the 53rd minute.[10] Cruden made his second appearance in an All Blacks jersey on 19 June 2010, when again he replaced Dan Carter, in the 42–9 victory over Wales, in the last ever match at Carisbrook in Dunedin.[11] He scored his first try for the All Blacks on 26 June 2010 in a 29–10 victory over Wales in Hamilton.[12]
On 17 July 2010, Cruden made his Tri Nations debut for the All Blacks as a 73rd minute substitute for Ma'a Nonu in a 31–17 victory over The Springboks at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.[13]
On 2 October 2011, during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, it was announced Cruden had been called up as a replacement in the All Blacks squad for Dan Carter, after the New Zealand starting fly-half injured his groin during training.
On 9 October 2011, Cruden replaced Colin Slade in the first half of the All Blacks' 33-10 World Cup Quarter Final victory over Argentina, at Eden Park, and contributed a conversion to the score.[14]
On 9 October 2011, Cruden again replaced Colin Slade, now as starting fly-half, due to a groin injury received by Slade during the World Cup Quarter Final with Argentina.[15]
Cruden started the match at First Five-Eighth against Australia on 16 October 2011, in the World Cup Semi Final at Eden Park, scoring a drop goal in the 20-6 victory for the All Blacks.
On 23 October 2011, Cruden started for the All Blacks in the World Cup Final at Eden Park, but left the field in the 34th minute with a bad knee injury, believed to be hyperextension. The All Blacks went on to win the game against France 8-7 and Cruden picked up his World Cup winners' medal.[16]
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