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Eroni Clarke

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Eroni Clarke
Date of birth (1969-01-31) 31 January 1969 (age 55)
Place of birthApia, Samoa
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight90 kg (198 lb; 14 st 2 lb)
SchoolHenderson High School
Notable relative(s)Sheryl Clarke (sister)
Caleb Clarke (son)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1991–2002 Auckland 150 (349)
1996–2000 Blues 51 (75)
2001 Highlanders 2 (0)
2003–2005 Ricoh Black Rams ()
2005 Counties Manukau 10 (15)
Correct as of 2 August 2020
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1992–1998 New Zealand 24 (50)
1996 New Zealand Barbarians 1 (0)
1997–1998 New Zealand A 4 (0)
Correct as of 2 August 2020

Eroni Clarke (born 31 March 1969) is a New Zealand rugby union international who played for Auckland, the Blues and the Highlanders. Clarke made 155 appearances for Auckland,[1] making him the fifth (equal with Sean Fitzpatrick) most capped player in the union's history. He also scored 73 tries for Auckland, the fourth most in the union's history. Clarke also made 48 appearances for the Auckland Blues at Super 12 level and made fourteen total appearances (ten test matches) for New Zealand, making his international debut in 1992.

In August 2020 Clarke was appointed New Zealand Rugby's first Pasifika Engagement Manager.[2]

In 2020, Eroni was in Match Fit to trim down and prepare for a one-match comeback with fellow ex-All Blacks against recently retired but far more in-shape Barbarians in 8 weeks. He was granted leave on Day 1 after biometric tests, as the day coincided with Caleb Clarke being selected for the All Blacks, and also missed the final Bronco test as it was the week when Caleb made his debut in Wellington.[3][4] He played in the full-contact match against Pukekohe Presidents as a lock. In 2021/22, he returned for season 2, where he returned to increase his cardio fitness to prepare for the 90's and 2000's Classic Wallabies, whereby the team mostly consisted of players that dominated the Tri Nations against All Blacks and South Africa in that era and won consecutive Bledisloe Cups. He sat out of the first tackle rugby game against East Coast due to impinged nerve in his neck.[5]

Family

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Clarke is a Samoan New Zealander. His father, Iafeta Clarke, was a member of the Samoa national rugby union team that won the gold medal at the 1963 South Pacific Games. He also played club rugby for Suburbs and was a member of their first Gallaher Shield winning team. His sister, Sheryl Clarke, is a former New Zealand netball international.[6][7] His son, Caleb Clarke, is also a New Zealand rugby union international.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Roy Williams (26 May 2006). "Clarke retires after 30 years for family 'quality time'". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Former All Black Eroni Clarke appointed to NZR Pasifika role". Radio NZ. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  3. ^ Grant Chapman (21 October 2020). "Match Fit: Former All Black Eroni Clarke faces brutal health assessment in Three's new series". NewsHub. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Match Fit Season 1 Ep 4 | DOCUMENTARY/FACTUAL | ThreeNow". www.threenow.co.nz. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Match Fit Season 2 Ep 3 | DOCUMENTARY/FACTUAL | ThreeNow". www.threenow.co.nz. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Netball: Grateful for a chance for some payback". www.nzherald.co.nz. 3 November 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Netball: Scanlan out to regain her edge". www.odt.co.nz. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Father and son: The special All Blacks legacy that bonds Eroni and Caleb Clarke". stuff.co.nz. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
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