Kurtis Haiu
Encyclopedia
Kurtis Haiu is a rugby union
player who plays for Blues in Super Rugby, and represents Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup
and
and under 21
level before beginning his professional rugby career.
, a game Auckland lost 13–17. He has continued to represent Auckland consistently since, even being given captaincy duties on occasion.
debut off the bench for the Blues in their season opening 19–37 loss to the Hurricanes
in Auckland
. His first start for the Blues came in the Round 7 loss to the New South Wales Waratahs
where he was given the task of marking Wycliff Palu
. That same season Haiu scored his first try in Super Rugby when he dotted down against the Cats in Johannesburg
.
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 Blues in Super Rugby, and represents Auckland 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
Representative rugby
Haiu represented New Zealand at Secondary Schools, under 19New Zealand national under-19 rugby union team
The New Zealand Under 19's rugby team was a team for players aged under 19 as a platform to the All Blacks. The New Zealand Under 19's have joined forces with the New Zealand Under 21's to make the new team New Zealand Under 20's for the all new IRB Junior World Championship, which commenced in...
and under 21
New Zealand national under-21 rugby union team
The New Zealand Under 21's rugby union team is for players aged under 21 as a platform for the All Blacks. The New Zealand Under 21's have joined forces with the New Zealand Under 19's to make the new team New Zealand Under 20's for the all new IRB Junior World Championship...
level before beginning his professional rugby career.
Provincial rugby
Haiu made his debut for Auckland in 2005 against the touring British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
, a game Auckland lost 13–17. He has continued to represent Auckland consistently since, even being given captaincy duties on occasion.
Super rugby
2006 saw Haiu make his Super 14Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
debut off the bench for the Blues in their season opening 19–37 loss to the Hurricanes
Hurricanes (Super rugby franchise)
The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition...
in Auckland
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...
. His first start for the Blues came in the Round 7 loss to the New South Wales Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
where he was given the task of marking Wycliff Palu
Wycliff Palu
Wycliff Palu is an Australian rugby union footballer of Tongan descent. He plays for the New South Wales Waratahs in the international Super Rugby competition...
. That same season Haiu scored his first try in Super Rugby when he dotted down against the Cats in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
.