Ben Atiga
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Alo Charles Atiga (born 5 May 1983 in Auckland
) is a New Zealand
rugby union
footballer and plays centre and fullback. Atiga is a product of Auckland Grammar School
. He has currently played only 1 test for the All Blacks
, he got called into the 2003 All Blacks World Cup squad as an injury replacement and got his cap against Tonga in that tournament. He plays for Auckland
in the Air New Zealand Cup
and for the Blues in the Super 14
.
On 1 September 2006 Atiga played his 50th game of provincial rugby, Auckland
's "Battle of the Bridge" match against North Harbour
. In 2007 he decided to quit rugby to start a business. But,then in April 2010 it was announced that he would rejoin the Auckland Rugby Union and the Auckland Blues. Atiga was called into the Highlanders in the 2011 Super 15 following numerous injuries in the squad. He started from the bench against Hurricanes in his return to top tier rugby.
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer and plays centre and fullback. Atiga is a product of Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It had a roll of 2,483 in 2008, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand...
. He has currently played only 1 test for the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
, he got called into the 2003 All Blacks World Cup squad as an injury replacement and got his cap against Tonga in that tournament. He plays for Auckland
Auckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
in the Air New Zealand Cup
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
and for the Blues in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
.
On 1 September 2006 Atiga played his 50th game of provincial rugby, Auckland
Auckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
's "Battle of the Bridge" match against North Harbour
North Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
. In 2007 he decided to quit rugby to start a business. But,then in April 2010 it was announced that he would rejoin the Auckland Rugby Union and the Auckland Blues. Atiga was called into the Highlanders in the 2011 Super 15 following numerous injuries in the squad. He started from the bench against Hurricanes in his return to top tier rugby.