Caleb Ralph
Encyclopedia
Caleb Stan Ralph (born 10 September 1977 in Rotorua, New Zealand) is a New Zealand
rugby union
footballer. Ralph began his first-class career with Bay of Plenty
, then moved to Auckland before heading to Canterbury. He started his Super Rugby
career with the Chiefs in 1997, Blues (1998–99), Crusaders (2000–2008) and a cameo role with the Queensland Reds
(2011). He made his All Black debut while playing for Auckland in 1998.
After an absence from the national team of three years he was recalled in 2001, and was a regular member of the All Blacks throughout the 2002 and 2003 seasons, playing a total of 13 tests and scoring eight tries, including a hat-trick against Italy
in 2002, and was a member of the New Zealand team during the 2003 Rugby World Cup
. In 2006 he gained his 100th consecutive super rugby cap.
He made the New Zealand sevens side while still at Western Heights High School
, Rotorua
. He has since regularly represented New Zealand
in Rugby sevens
between 1996 and 2000 playing with Eric Rush and was a member of the gold medal-winning New Zealand team at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
.
Ralph is second on the all-time list of Super Rugby try scorers, one try behind Doug Howlett
. Ralph won the Canterbury Maori Trophy on December 10, 2005.
Rumoured to have had a relationship with Zara Phillips.
In 2008 he signed up to play with Japanese club Fukuoka Sanix Blues
. In 2010 he signed with the Australian club Sunshine Coast Stingrays
. The following year in the final round of the regular 2011 Super Rugby season, Queensland Reds
coach Ewen McKenzie
recruited Ralph on a short term contract to combat the side's injury crisis in the outside backs. If he takes the field in Round 18, he will equal George Gregan
's record of 136 Super Rugby games.
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. Ralph began his first-class career with Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union
The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union is the official governing body for rugby union in the Bay of Plenty, in the North-East of the North Island...
, then moved to Auckland before heading to Canterbury. He started his Super Rugby
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
career with the Chiefs in 1997, Blues (1998–99), Crusaders (2000–2008) and a cameo role with the Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
(2011). He made his All Black debut while playing for Auckland in 1998.
After an absence from the national team of three years he was recalled in 2001, and was a regular member of the All Blacks throughout the 2002 and 2003 seasons, playing a total of 13 tests and scoring eight tries, including a hat-trick against Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
in 2002, and was a member of the New Zealand team during the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
. In 2006 he gained his 100th consecutive super rugby cap.
He made the New Zealand sevens side while still at Western Heights High School
Western Heights High School
Western Heights High School is a high school situated in Rotorua, New Zealand.Heights is the largest co-ed school in Rotorua. Also, Cambridge International Examinations are offered as well as NCEA. WHHS was the 7th school in NCEA for 2005 for all of New Zealand...
, Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
. He has since regularly represented New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby union team (sevens)
The New Zealand national rugby union sevens team is the New Zealand representative team in rugby union sevens and competes in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-IRB Sevens:...
in Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
between 1996 and 2000 playing with Eric Rush and was a member of the gold medal-winning New Zealand team at the 1998 Commonwealth Games
1998 Commonwealth Games
The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
.
Ralph is second on the all-time list of Super Rugby try scorers, one try behind Doug Howlett
Doug Howlett
Douglas Charles Howlett is a professional New Zealand rugby union player of Tongan descent. He is primarily a wing but he has also covered fullback at national and international levels. He currently plays in Ireland with Munster. He is the brother of former Tongan rugby league international Phil...
. Ralph won the Canterbury Maori Trophy on December 10, 2005.
Rumoured to have had a relationship with Zara Phillips.
In 2008 he signed up to play with Japanese club Fukuoka Sanix Blues
Fukuoka Sanix Blues
, formerly Fukuoka Sanix Bombs, is a Japanese rugby union team based in Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Founded in April 1994 , the team rose rapidly through the Kyūshū leagues and was in the Top League for the first season as Kyūshū's sole representative, but lost a relegation battle with...
. In 2010 he signed with the Australian club Sunshine Coast Stingrays
Sunshine Coast Stingrays
The Sunshine Coast Stingrays are an Australian rugby union club, based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. The club currently competes in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition. The club is the most recent addition to the Premier competition, having their first season in 2005...
. The following year in the final round of the regular 2011 Super Rugby season, Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
coach Ewen McKenzie
Ewen McKenzie
Ewen James Andrew McKenzie is a former Australian Rugby Union prop and now professional coach, currently with the Queensland Reds who won the 2011 premiership...
recruited Ralph on a short term contract to combat the side's injury crisis in the outside backs. If he takes the field in Round 18, he will equal George Gregan
George Gregan
George Musarurwa Gregan AM is an Australian rugby union halfback who has made more appearances for his national team than any other player in the sport's history....
's record of 136 Super Rugby games.