Josh Blackie
Encyclopedia
Josh Blackie is a New Zealand rugby union
player who plays for the Blues and Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
in Japan
Blackie played his first match for the Highlanders in 2001, and played openside flanker for the Junior All Blacks. In 2003 he was the leading try scorer for New Zealand and equal lead in 2005 for the Highlanders, with whom he has collected 57 caps and scored nine tries. He has played over a dozen tournaments as part of the New Zealand Rugby Sevens
team. He won a Gold medal at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
During his stint in the New Zealand under-21's Blackie was actually the first choice openside flanker (no. 7) ahead of current All Black Openside and skipper Richie McCaw.
On 23 April 2007, it was announced that Blackie would leave the Otago Rugby Football Union
and the Highlanders to take up a contract to play rugby in Japan for the Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
. He played for the Steelers throughout the 2007–08 Top League season.
On 10 October 2008, it was stated that Josh Blackie signed a 2-year deal with the Auckland Rugby Union, making him eligible for the Blues and the All Blacks. Blackie cites the reason for moving to Auckland instead of Otago was he was born and raised in Auckland.
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...
player who plays for the Blues and Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kobe Steel, Ltd., and based in Kobe. They were the first ever Top League champions when the League started in the 2003-4 season...
in Japan
Blackie played his first match for the Highlanders in 2001, and played openside flanker for the Junior All Blacks. In 2003 he was the leading try scorer for New Zealand and equal lead in 2005 for the Highlanders, with whom he has collected 57 caps and scored nine tries. He has played over a dozen tournaments as part of the New Zealand 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...
team. He won a Gold medal at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
During his stint in the New Zealand under-21's Blackie was actually the first choice openside flanker (no. 7) ahead of current All Black Openside and skipper Richie McCaw.
On 23 April 2007, it was announced that Blackie would leave the Otago Rugby Football Union
Otago Rugby Football Union
The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago Region of New Zealand. The union is based in the city of Dunedin, and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium. The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial...
and the Highlanders to take up a contract to play rugby in Japan for the Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers
Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers are a Japanese rugby union team owned by Kobe Steel, Ltd., and based in Kobe. They were the first ever Top League champions when the League started in the 2003-4 season...
. He played for the Steelers throughout the 2007–08 Top League season.
On 10 October 2008, it was stated that Josh Blackie signed a 2-year deal with the Auckland Rugby Union, making him eligible for the Blues and the All Blacks. Blackie cites the reason for moving to Auckland instead of Otago was he was born and raised in Auckland.
External links
- Highlanders profile retrieved on 13 March 2007