James Christian (rugby union)
| Full name | James Blair Christian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 March 1978 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Truro, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 238 lb (108 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James Blair Christian (born 7 March 1978) is a New Zealand former professional rugby union player.[1]
A hooker, Christian made his provincial debut for Auckland as an 18-year-old and from 1998 to 2000 played Super 12 rugby with the Blues.[2] He scored the opening try of the 1998 Super 12 final, which they lost to the Crusaders.[3]
Christian, a NZ Colts representative, had a stint with London club Blackheath in 1997–98 and returned to England in 2002–03 to play with the Newcastle Falcons.[4] His time in Newcastle ended when he was hospitalised after taking an accidental knee to the head, causing temporarily paralysis. He never recovered full use of his left arm due to nerve damage to his spine and had to retire from rugby.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Forlorn Blues franchise must spill blood on the floor". NZ Herald. 12 May 2001.
- ^ "James Blair Christian". www.rugbyhistory.co.nz.
- ^ "How the '98 Crusaders laid the foundations for a Super Rugby dynasty". Stuff.co.nz. 14 July 2018.
- ^ "Scots dazzled in glare of publicity". The Daily Telegraph. 19 January 1998.
- ^ "Ironman: Christian soldier - Sport News". NZ Herald. 25 February 2007.
External links
[edit]- James Christian at ESPNscrum