Scott McLeod (rugby union)
| Date of birth | 2 February 1973 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Brisbane | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 100 kg (220 lb) | ||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
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Scott James McLeod (born 28 February 1973) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former second-five eighth and centre. McLeod played 10 tests for the All Blacks from 1996 to 1998, and played domestic rugby for Waikato, Waikato Chiefs, and Toshiba Brave Lupus. McLeod is currently an assistant coach of the Highlanders Super Rugby team.
Provincial career and Super 12
McLeod was born in Brisbane, Australia. He first came to prominence playing amateur club rugby in Hamilton and in John Boe's Waikato Colts teams. He made his NPC debut for Waikato in 1995 and was named as a standby for the All Blacks 1995 end of year tour of Italy and France. In 1996, McLeod made his Super 12 debut for the Waikato Chiefs. He went on to play 69 matches for Waikato and 44 matches for the Chiefs; towards the end of his playing career in New Zealand he was in competition with Mark Ranby and Keith Lowen for starting positions in both sides. He won the Ranfurly Shield twice with Waikato, against Taranaki in 1996 and Auckland in 1997.[1]
At the end of the 2001 season, McLeod departed New Zealand to take up a professional contract in Japan with Toshiba Brave Lupus. He played for Toshiba from 2002 until his retirement in 2009.[2]
All Blacks career
McLeod played his first tests for the All Blacks in 1996, starting at second five-eighth in place of the injured Walter Little against Manu Samoa and Scotland. McLeod lost his test place to Little but went on to play as a midweek and substitute player in 17 All Black matches between 1996 and 1998, including 10 tests and three test starts. McLeod lost his place in the test squad due to injuries, 'loss of form' and increasing 'competition' from 'players' like Mark Mayerhofler, Alama Ieremia and Eroni Clarke. He remained on the periphery of All Blacks selections up until 2000, with six appearances for New Zealand A.[1]
Coaching career
McLeod returned to New Zealand from Japan in 2008 to work as skills coach for the Waikato rugby team. He returned to Hamilton permanently in 2009 after finishing his final season with Toshiba.[2] In 2009, McLeod was appointed assistant coach to Chris Gibbes for the Waikato Air New Zealand Cup (now ITM Cup) team. McLeod has worked as skills coach for the Waikato Chiefs.[3] He is currently an assistant coach with the Highlanders.
Personal life
McLeod is married to Dana and the couple have four children. In 2008, the destruction of his house by an arsonist received national coverage in New Zealand.[4][5]
References
- ^ a b "Scott McLeod". allblacks.com. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ a b "Ex-All Black heading home to foster Waikato skills". Waikato Times. Fairfax New Zealand. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ "Chris Gibbes Appointed as Waikato Coach". Waikato Rugby Union. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ Ihaka, James (28 March 2008). "Blaze wrecks ex-All Black's home". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ "McLeod house fire deliberate". Waikato Times. Fairfax New Zealand. 28 March 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2011.