Marty Holah

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Marty Holah
Full name Martin Rowan Holah
Date of birth 10 September 1976 (1976-09-10) (age 35)
Place of birth Hamilton, New Zealand
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 101 kg (15 st 13 lb)
School St John's College
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Flanker
New Zealand No. 999
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2007–2011 Ospreys 90 (10)
correct as of 18 April 2011.
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1999–2007, 2011– Waikato 73 (40)
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2001–2007 Chiefs 69 (10)
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2001–2006 New Zealand
NZ Maori
36 (15)

Martin Rowan "Marty" Holah (born 10 September 1976 in Hamilton, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who has played for Welsh regional side Ospreys, the Waikato provincial team and the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Holah was capped in 36 international test matches for the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks. Holah's contribution to the All Black starting XV was blocked by the emergence of Richie McCaw, the current All Black captain.[1]

The Waikato flanker first made his debut for the All Blacks on 16 June 2001 against Samoa at Albany. He is known for his ability to steal the ball in the tackle. While he has been in and out of the All Black squad under the current coaching regime, he has continued to be a Waikato and Chiefs mainstay in his home town of Hamilton. Holah was instrumental in the NZ Māori's defeat of the British and Irish Lions during the 2005 tour at his home ground, Waikato Stadium.

In 2006, Holah was named in the unfamiliar position of blind-side flanker for the Ireland Test in Hamilton, his first start in the All Black jersey since 2004. The named loose forward trio of Holah, McCaw and So'oialo was clearly an experimental one, as all three are considered "flyers", known for their skill at the breakdown rather than explosive ball-carrying.[citation needed]

The sight of Holah being pulled so early in the second half of that Test was certainly an ominous sign for his future in the All Black jersey. On 14 August 2007, it was announced that Holah had signed a two-year contract with the Magners League champions, the Ospreys.[2] He enjoyed his time there, later signing a one-season extension on his contract. In the 2009/10 season he was named Ospreys' Coaches Player of the Year.

On 18 April 2011 it was announced Holah was returning home to play for Waikato in the 2011 ITM Cup season.[3] Holah is currently a regular member of the starting side for Waikato in the 2011 ITM Cup.

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[edit] External links


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