Adam Thomson (rugby union)

Adam Thomson
Full name Adam Thomson
Date of birth 13 March 1982
Place of birth Christchurch, New Zealand
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 112 kg (17 st 9 lb)
School Christchurch Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Flanker
New Zealand No. 1073
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2013– Canon Eagles 23 (60)
correct as of 19 January 2015.
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2004–12 Otago 50 (55)
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2006–12
2015–		 Highlanders
Queensland Reds		 68
4		 (105)
(0)
correct as of 8 October 2014.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2008–12 New Zealand 29 (30)
correct as of 8 October 2014.

Adam Thomson (born 13 March 1982) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby. He previously played provincial rugby for Otago and Super Rugby for the Highlanders in New Zealand as well as the Canon Eagles in Japan's Top League. He represented New Zealand – the All Blacks – between 2008 and 2012, and played a total of 30 tests, including two during New Zealand's victorious 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign.

He plays mainly as a flanker in the number 6 jersey on the blind-side of the scrum. He was selected for the 2008 All Blacks to play England and Ireland, and made his All Blacks debut against Ireland as a replacement for Rodney So'oialo on 7 June 2008. His last All Blacks' match was against Scotland in November 2012. He is known by fans as the "wooly mammoth" due to his size and hair. He is also known as "Blond Cena" due to his interest in wrestling and his celebration of "You can't see me", a signature taunt/gimmick by John Cena. On 1st November 2014, Thomson played for the Barbarians, scoring a try against Australia at Twickenham stadium in London.

Otago

Thomson made his debut for Otago on 17 September 2004 when he started against Waikato. Thomson played four matches in 2004, and started in all of them. Although Thomson did not get the feeling of winning for Otago, he came close when they narrowly lost to Auckland 35–33. The 2005 season with Otago was better in ways for Thomson, playing in five matches, but only starting once. He did enjoy some wins though, one of which came against Wellington. 2006 saw Thomson move to number 8 where he played five matches and enjoyed more wins, like the 56–21 win over North Harbour (Thomson scored one try). Thomson scored another try in 2006 against Southland. In 2007 Thomson moved back to flanker and played nine matches(started all 9), and scored three tries in a season that saw Otago only just winning matches, and going down heavily to the likes of Wellington 68–7 and Canterbury 44–6.

Highlanders

Thomson played in three Super 14 matches for the Highlanders in 2006, playing all three from the bench. He was not selected for the Highlanders in 2007 despite having a good season with Otago in the Air New Zealand Cup. Thomson was recalled in 2008, where he played in twelve matches. At the start of the season he was just a substitute, but he played so well that midway through the Super 14 he was their top choice flanker. Thomson scored five tries in the 2008 Super 14, one came in the triumph over the Crusaders.

Reds

On the 8th October 2014 it was announced that Thompson would be joining the Queensland Reds after his contract in Japan expires at the end of 2014.[1]

All Blacks

Thomson was selected for the Iveco test series in June 2008. He made his debut off the bench against Ireland when he replaced Rodney So'oialo. He then started in the second test against England. He played for the All Blacks during these tests thus selected in the Tri-Nations squad. He has also started the 2009 All Black season at openside flanker filling in for incumbent captain Richie McCaw, before breaking his thumb 30minutes into the game. Thomson was side-lined for the better half of the season before making his comeback against Australia in the final Tri-Nations match, playing at blindside flanker. He was the fastest player over 40m in the All Blacks squad of 2009.

New Zealand Rep Teams

References

  1. ↑ http://www.redsrugby.com.au/News/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/14150/St-George-Queensland-Reds-sign-former-All-Blacks-back-rower%C2%A0Adam-Thomson.aspx