Michael Broadhurst
| Full name | Michael Broadhurst | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 October 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||
| Weight | 112 kg (17 st 9 lb) | ||
| Notable relative(s) | James Broadhurst (brother) | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Flanker, Lock, Number 8 | ||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2009– |
Poverty Bay Ricoh Black Rams |
51 |
(45) |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2012- | Japan | 16 | (30) |
Michael Broadhurst (born 30 October 1986) is a New Zealand born Japanese rugby union player who plays at flanker, lock or number 8 for the Ricoh Black Rams in the Top League and the Japan national rugby union team.
Broadhurst started his career with Poverty Bay in the Heartland Championship and in 2008 he won selection for the New Zealand Heartland XV as one of the top players in the competition.[1]
In 2009, Broadhurst moved to Japan to play for the Ricoh Black Rams in the Top League. In 2012 he qualified to play for Japan through residency, and he played his first matches for them in June in the two matches series against the French Barbarians playing at lock and scored a try in the second match. Later in the year in November, he made his full capped debut for Japan coming off the bench in the wins against Romania[2] and Georgia.
In 2013, with Michael Leitch out injured, Broadhurst got a starting position in the team at flanker and notably scored tries in both matches of the two test matches against Wales in June, helping Japan to their first ever victory over the Welsh in the 2nd Test.[3]
His younger brother James Broadhurst is also a professional rugby player and plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby.
References
- ↑ "NZ Heartland XV squad named".
- ↑ "Romania v Japan at Bucharest".
- ↑ BBC. "Japan record historic first win over Wales". 15 June 2013. Retrieved on 17 June 2013.