Nicky Little
Encyclopedia
Nicky Tyrone Little in Tokoroa, New Zealand, is a rugby union
footballer. He plays at fly-half. He is a nephew of All Blacks
centre Walter Little
, but represents Fiji at international level.
and North Harbour
in New Zealand provincial rugby, before moving to England where he played for the Sale Sharks
in late 1999. He signed with Dax
in France
, but soon moved to Pontypridd
, before signing with the Saracens
.
Little made his test debut for Fiji
in 1996 in a match against the Springboks
in Pretoria
, at just 19 years of age. He finished the 2000 and 2001 Pacific Rim tournaments as the top points scorer. He entered the 2003 Rugby World Cup
as Fiji's all-time highest points scorer, with 488 points. He got four caps
for Fiji at the 2003 World Cup, scoring a total of 45 points in those games. At the 2007 event he starred as Fiji defeated Wales
to reach the quarter-finals, but was injured late in the final group game and missed the quarter-final.
On 15 July 2009, it was announced that Little had signed a one year deal with Bath
, with Head Coach Steve Meehan
stating that he would be in the squad for the tour to Portugal in late July 2009.
On 26 February 2010 it was announced that Little would be playing for Bristol Rugby
from the 2010–11 season onwards. But at the end of the 2010/2011 season it was announced that Little would be part of the clearout of players departing Bristol Rugby.
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. He plays at fly-half. He is a nephew of 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....
centre Walter Little
Walter Little (rugby player)
Walter Little is a former New Zealand rugby player. He played in the second five-eighth position for and for North Harbour. He was known for his combination with Frank Bunce.- External links :...
, but represents Fiji at international level.
Career
He has scored 652 points for Fiji and is the Pacific region's second highest point scorer of players who are currently active. He previously played for CanterburyCanterbury Rugby Football Union
The Canterbury Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the Canterbury region, in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand...
and 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 New Zealand provincial rugby, before moving to England where he played for the Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
in late 1999. He signed with Dax
US Dax
Union Sportive Dacquoise, also known as US Dax, is a French rugby union club currently playing in Rugby Pro D2, the second level of the French league system....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, but soon moved to Pontypridd
Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd Rugby Football Club, known as Ponty, are a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, currently playing in the British and Irish Cup, Principality Premiership, and are the current SWALEC Cup champions....
, before signing with the Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
.
Little made his test debut for Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
in 1996 in a match against the Springboks
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, at just 19 years of age. He finished the 2000 and 2001 Pacific Rim tournaments as the top points scorer. He entered 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...
as Fiji's all-time highest points scorer, with 488 points. He got four caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Fiji at the 2003 World Cup, scoring a total of 45 points in those games. At the 2007 event he starred as Fiji defeated Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
to reach the quarter-finals, but was injured late in the final group game and missed the quarter-final.
On 15 July 2009, it was announced that Little had signed a one year deal with Bath
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
, with Head Coach Steve Meehan
Steve Meehan
Stephen Meehan , is a rugby union coach, currently in charge of Bath Rugby.He began his coaching career in Queensland in 1999, working variously as Queensland Reds Under 19 Selector, Brisbane Head Coach, Combined States Under 19 Backs Coach, and Head Coach of Brisbane Cyclone when they became East...
stating that he would be in the squad for the tour to Portugal in late July 2009.
On 26 February 2010 it was announced that Little would be playing for Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby
Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
from the 2010–11 season onwards. But at the end of the 2010/2011 season it was announced that Little would be part of the clearout of players departing Bristol Rugby.