John Hardie (rugby player)

John Hardie
Full name John Hardie
Date of birth (1988-07-27) 27 July 1988
Place of birth Lumsden, Southland, New Zealand
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 103 kg (16 st 3 lb)
School Southland Boys' High School
Occupation(s) International Rugby Union Player
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Flanker
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2015– Edinburgh 10 (20)
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2007–2014 Southland 65 (65)
correct as of 19 October 2014.
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2010–2015 Highlanders 53 (20)
correct as of 6 September 2015.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2015– Scotland 13 (15)
correct as of 12 November 2016.

John Hardie (born 27 July 1988 in Lumsden) is a New Zealand born Scottish international rugby union player and also plays club rugby for Edinburgh.[1] Hardie predominantly plays as an open side flanker, though he is also comfortable on the blindside. Having previously played for the Southland Stags in the ITM Cup and Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, Hardie is currently signed to a contract with the Scottish Rugby Union until 2017.

Playing career

Provincial Rugby

As a student of Southland Boys High School he was in the first XV for three years from 2004 to 2006 earning New Zealand Secondary Schools selection in his final year. The following year he was a member of the New Zealand Under 19 team which won the 2007 IRB World Championships in Ireland.

He made his Southland debut in 2007 against Otago, and emerged as a full-time starter during the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup, appearing in every match and scoring three tries. He continued to be a key member of the squad as the Stags defended the Ranfurly Shield for the greater part of the 2010 ITM Cup season. Another outstanding season with the Stags in 2011, in which they regained the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury, saw him named Stags player of the year and also Southland Supporters Club player of the year for the second year. In 2013, Hardie again won the Stags player of the year and also the players player title. In 2014, he again won player of the year title.

Super Rugby

Based on his strong performance in the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup, Hardie was included in the Highlanders squad for the 2010 Super 14 season. Serving mainly as backup to starting flankers Adam Thomson and Alando Soakai, he made 11 appearances over the course of the 13 game season, including three starts.[2]

In 2012, with the departure of Soakai to Japan, Hardie emerged as the starting openside flanker, but was sidelined with a serious toe injury.[2]

While the Highlanders had a poor 2013, Hardie was one of the teams outstanding performers, leading the team in tackles completed, pilfers and runs made. Hardie is contracted for the 2015 Super 15 with the Highlanders.

International career

John Hardie made a highly successful international debut for Scotland on the 22 August 2015, in a World Cup warm-up game against Italy in Turin. Hardie qualifies for Scotland through his grandmother who was from Low Valleyfield, Culross in Fife.

Playing Style

John Hardie is a dynamic back-row player, who excels defensively.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.edinburghrugby.org/news/15/10/20/hardie-joins-club-two-year-contract
  2. 1 2 Burdon, Nathan (22 December 2012). "Hardie ready for injury-free Highlanders season". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
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