Craig Clare

Craig Clare
Date of birth (1984-08-19) 19 August 1984
Place of birth Palmerston North, New Zealand
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
School Palmerston North Boys High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Centre
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009–10
2010–11
2013
Viadana
Bera Bera RT
Krasny Yar Krasnoyarsk
13 (10)
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003–04
2005–06
2010–12
2015
2016
Manawatu
Otago
Manawatu
Bay of Plenty
Wanganui
15
17
27
8


(107)
(0)
Correct as of 18 October 2015
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007 Highlanders 5 (0)

Craig Clare (born 19 August 1984) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays for Wanganui in the Heartland Championship. He also played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, before a broken leg stalled his career and caused a long injury layoff.

Playing career

New Zealand

Clare made his debut for Manawatu in 2003, and spent two seasons for the province before transferring to Otago in 2005 in the hopes of earning a Super Rugby contract with the Highlanders.

After a strong 2006, Clare was included in the Highlanders squad for the 2007 Super 14 season. Aged only 22, his Super Rugby career was off to a highly promising start as he started 4 of the team's first 5 games of the season. However, his career came to a crashing halt on 2 March in a game against the Blues when he suffered a compound fracture to his leg. Clare's leg injury forced a two-year layoff from the sport, and he didn't play again until 2009.

After a stint in Italy, Clare returned to New Zealand in 2010 and signed back with Manawatu.[1] He proceeded to start all 13 games of the 2010 season for the Turbos, primarily at his preferred position of fullback.

Clare signed for Bay of Plenty in 2015.[2][3]

Europe

After a long injury layoff, Clare returned to high level rugby in 2009, signing with Rugby Viadana of the Italian Super 10 (now National Championship of Excellence). He enjoyed a solid season in Italy, but fell victim to import restrictions when the club joined the Magners League as Aironi.[4]

Clare spent the 2010–11 season with Spanish side Bera Bera RT before returning to Manawatu again for the 2011 provincial campaign in New Zealand.

In 2013 he signed with Russian club Krasny Yar Krasnoyarsk on a 6-month contract.[5]

References

  1. Lampp, By Peter (2010-04-13). "Boost for Turbos as Craig Clare signs". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  2. Herald, New Zealand. "Rugby: Steamers hope they have winning mix". m.nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. "Clare turns up in BOP squad". Stuff. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  4. Lampp, Peter (13 April 2010). "Boost for Turbos as Craig Clare signs". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  5. Lampp, Peter (2013-06-25). "Clare in Siberia on 'lucrative contract'". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
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