Israel Dagg

Israel Dagg

Israel Dagg at the RWC parade in Wellington.
Full name	Israel Jamahl Akuhata Dagg
Date of birth	(1988-06-06) 6 June 1988
Place of birth	Marton, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	96 kg (15 st 2 lb)[1]
School	Lindisfarne College
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Fullback / Wing
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2006–	Hawke's Bay	44	(64)
correct as of 24 October 2014.
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2009–10 2011–	Highlanders Crusaders	25 64	(133) (100)
correct as of 11 April 2015.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2010–	New Zealand	46	(75)
correct as of 17 November 2014.

Israel Dagg (born 6 June 1988^[2]) is a New Zealand Rugby union player who plays for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and New Zealand internationally. He has also played for the New Zealand Sevens team, and represents Hawkes Bay in the ITM Cup.

Early life

Israel Dagg was born in Marton, New Zealand and attended Lindisfarne College in Hastings, Hawke's Bay. Dagg is of Māori descent.^[3]

Early career

While in high school, Dagg represented Hawke's Bay at Under 16 and Under 19 level.^[2] Dagg attended the Advanced Course at the International Rugby Academy (IRANZ) in April 2006. His course facilitator was current Chiefs coach, Dave Rennie, and former Otago, Otago Highlanders and New Zealand player Jeff Wilson.^[4] That year, he became the first secondary school player to be selected for Hawke's Bay since Danny Lee. The 2006 New Zealand Rugby Almanack named him one of its five promising players for 2006.^[2]

International career

2010

Dagg made his All Blacks debut against Ireland in New Plymouth on 12 June 2010.^[5] He was again capped against Wales the following week but was injured at half time.

Coach Graham Henry decided to rest him for the second test against Wales, giving veteran Mils Muliaina an opportunity. Muliaina was awarded the 15 jersey for the opening Tri Nations test against South Africa. A strong performance by the veteran, in the 32–12 result for the All Blacks, led to his being selected again for the rematch against the Springboks. Dagg was awarded a bench spot from which he emerged to score his first international try for the All Blacks. Dagg swerved between Schalk Burger and Pierre Spies before dancing his way to the try line. This try gave New Zealand the try bonus-point in the Investic Tri Nations as the All Blacks won 31–17.

Dagg's second test try came in dramatic circumstances against South Africa on 21 August 2010 at FNB Stadium near Soweto, Johannesburg. With the scores level at 22-all, in the last minute of play, Dagg backed up a break by Ma'a Nonu to score the game-winning try for a 29–22 result.^[6]

2011

In the pool rounds of the 2011 Rugby World Cup Dagg became one of the tournament's top try scorers. He scored the tournament's first try in the first half of the opening game against Tonga before adding another try before half time in the same game. His next try came in the 22nd minute of the All Blacks pool match against France.^[7] In total, he scored five tries in the tournament.^[8]

Dagg's inclusion saw Mils Muliaina displaced from the All Blacks starting XV,^[9] with Muliaina only two caps away from his 100th test. Dagg played in the final against France, which the All blacks won.

Following the completion of the Rugby World Cup, the IRB's Rugby News Service listed Dagg as one of the Top 5 players of the 2011 Rugby World Cup ^[10]

References

External links

• Israel Dagg at AllBlacks.com
• ESPN Profile