Robbie Fruean
Encyclopedia
Robert Fruean is a New Zealand rugby union
footballer. He is a midfield back and plays outside centre (13) and sometimes on the wing. He is a former Porirua College head boy. He is of Samoan heritage.
. He led New Zealand to a championship win beating South Africa in the final. He also won the IRB Under-19 Player of the Year the same year.
He made his National Provincial Championship
debut for Wellington against Auckland. He played 12 games for them scoring three tries before getting struck by illness. He subsequently underwent open-heart surgery for pancarditis, a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the heart.
In 2009 returned to rugby, making his Super 14
debut for the Hurricanes
against Blues. This was his first and last game for the Hurricanes after which he defected to the Crusaders and played for them in the 2010 Super 14 season
and the 2011 Super Rugby season, where he formed a formidable partnership with fellow center Sonny Bill Williams
.
He made his 2010 ITM Cup
debut for Canterbury, scoring two tries against Manawatu
. The next week Fruean scored three more against North Harbour
. He finished the season tied as the top try scorer with Lelia Masaga
with 10 tries.
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 is a midfield back and plays outside centre (13) and sometimes on the wing. He is a former Porirua College head boy. He is of Samoan heritage.
Career
In 2007, he made the NZ team for the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship
The International Rugby Board awarded the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship to the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Ulster branch hosted it. The Tournament, which took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland from 4-21 April, was split into two divisions of twelve teams...
. He led New Zealand to a championship win beating South Africa in the final. He also won the IRB Under-19 Player of the Year the same year.
He made his National Provincial Championship
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
debut for Wellington against Auckland. He played 12 games for them scoring three tries before getting struck by illness. He subsequently underwent open-heart surgery for pancarditis, a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the heart.
In 2009 returned to rugby, making his Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
debut for 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...
against Blues. This was his first and last game for the Hurricanes after which he defected to the Crusaders and played for them in the 2010 Super 14 season
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...
and the 2011 Super Rugby season, where he formed a formidable partnership with fellow center Sonny Bill Williams
Sonny Bill Williams
Sonny William 'Sonny Bill' Williams is a New Zealand rugby union player and former rugby league player. He is only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the country in rugby league. In rugby union he usually plays as a centre...
.
He made his 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...
debut for Canterbury, scoring two tries against Manawatu
Manawatu Rugby Union
Manawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of the sport of Rugby union in the Manawatu rugby province. The Union is based in the city of Palmerston North but has a catchment area from nearby towns in the province, including Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and...
. The next week Fruean scored three more against 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...
. He finished the season tied as the top try scorer with Lelia Masaga
Lelia Masaga
Lelia Masaga is a professional rugby union player from New Zealand. Masaga is contracted to the Chiefs in the Super 14 where he plays for them on the wing. He is nicknamed the Flash and is also the youngest member of the team. His career was highlighted by selection for New Zealand representation...
with 10 tries.