Matt Berquist
Encyclopedia
Matt Berquist is a rugby union
player who plays at fly-half for Leinster Rugby
in the Rabo Direct Pro12 and the Heineken Cup
.
and represented Otago in 2003 and 2004.
In 2005, he transferred to Hawke's Bay
where he would blossom as a player, helping the Magpies turnaround from perennial struggles to Air New Zealand Cup
semi-finalists in 2008 and 2009. During this time, Berquist earned a reputation as one of the best goal-kickers in the competition, finishing as the Cup's leading scorer in 2009.
For the 2010 ITM Cup
, Berquist transferred to Auckland. He again topped 100 points in the competition, including finally scoring his first provincial try in his 8th season in the competition.
Berquist's strong performances for Hawke's Bay earned him a Super 14
contract with the Highlanders for the 2009
season. After starting the season as a bench player, he started 6 of the final 7 matches of the season at his preferred position of fly-half. He shared goal-kicking duties with Daniel Bowden
and finished the season with 49 points, including his first try in Super Rugby.
For 2010
, Berquist faced increased competition for the starting fly-half position with the Highlanders from Michael Hobbs
and Robbie Robinson
, although he still managed to match his 2009 total with 6 starts. His goal-kicking opportunities decreased from 2009 due to the emergence of Israel Dagg
as one of the top goal-kickers in Super 14.
In 2011
, Berquist was back up for Dan Carter at the Crusaders.
in the summer of 2011 to start playing in the 2011/12 season. He will play back up to Jonathan Sexton
but should see a lot of game time for Leinster during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
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 at fly-half for Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
in the Rabo Direct Pro12 and the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
.
Provincial Rugby
Berquist attended the University of OtagoUniversity of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
and represented Otago in 2003 and 2004.
In 2005, he transferred to Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. The union is based in Napier.-Representative rugby:...
where he would blossom as a player, helping the Magpies turnaround from perennial struggles to 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...
semi-finalists in 2008 and 2009. During this time, Berquist earned a reputation as one of the best goal-kickers in the competition, finishing as the Cup's leading scorer in 2009.
For the 2010 ITM Cup
2010 ITM Cup
The 2010 ITM Cup was the 34th provincial rugby union competition, the fifth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the first under the new sponsor of ITM , involving the top 14 provincial unions of New Zealand...
, Berquist transferred to Auckland. He again topped 100 points in the competition, including finally scoring his first provincial try in his 8th season in the competition.
Super Rugby
Berquist was initially a member of the Highlanders in 2004 while still playing for Otago, but he failed to see action in a single game.Berquist's strong performances for Hawke's Bay earned him a Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
contract with the Highlanders for the 2009
2009 Super 14 season
The 2009 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2009 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 30 May, when the Bulls won their second Super Rugby title with a decisive 61–17 victory over the Waikato Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. The 2009 season...
season. After starting the season as a bench player, he started 6 of the final 7 matches of the season at his preferred position of fly-half. He shared goal-kicking duties with Daniel Bowden
Daniel Bowden
Daniel Bowden is a New Zealand Rugby Union player that plays rugby for Aviva Premiership side London Irish.-Highlanders:Bowden played his first match for the Highlanders on Friday 15 February 2008 when he started against the Reds in Brisbane, he kicked one penalty for the match...
and finished the season with 49 points, including his first try in Super Rugby.
For 2010
2010 Super 14 season
The 2010 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2010 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 29 May. The 2010 season was the fifth and last season of the expanded Super 14 format. The schedule, which covers 3½ months, featured a total of 94 matches, with each team playing one...
, Berquist faced increased competition for the starting fly-half position with the Highlanders from Michael Hobbs
Michael Hobbs (rugby union)
Michael Joseph Deans Hobbs is a professional rugby union player. He has played for the Blues and Highlanders in the Super 14 competition. He also plays for the Wellington Lions in the Air New Zealand Cup. His playing positions are First Five-Eighth and Inside Centre...
and Robbie Robinson
Robbie Robinson (rugby player)
Robbie Robinson is a professional rugby union player who represents the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition and Southland in the ITM Cup.-Playing Career:...
, although he still managed to match his 2009 total with 6 starts. His goal-kicking opportunities decreased from 2009 due to the emergence of Israel Dagg
Israel Dagg
Israel Dagg is a World Cup winning New Zealand Rugby union player who plays for the Crusaders in the Super 15 and the All Blacks. He has also played for the New Zealand Sevens team. He is of Maori descent, on his mother's side....
as one of the top goal-kickers in Super 14.
In 2011
2011 Super 15 season
The 2011 Super Rugby season was the first season of the new 15-team format for the Super Rugby competition, which involved teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Including its past iterations as Super 12 and Super 14, this was the 16th season for the Southern Hemisphere's premier...
, Berquist was back up for Dan Carter at the Crusaders.
European Rugby
Berquist signed for Leinster RugbyLeinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
in the summer of 2011 to start playing in the 2011/12 season. He will play back up to Jonathan Sexton
Jonathan Sexton
Jonathan Sexton , is a rugby union player for Leinster Rugby in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup. Sexton is a nephew of former Garryowen, Munster and Ireland rugby player Willie Sexton.Sexton is registered to St...
but should see a lot of game time for Leinster during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.