Andy Haden
Encyclopedia
Andrew Maxwell Haden is a former New Zealand rugby union
player, who was a lock-forward for Auckland
and New Zealand in the 1970s and 1980s.
, New Zealand, he made his All Black debut in 1972, and his Test debut against the British Lions
in 1977 – going on to make 41 appearances and scoring 2 tries. He played club rugby for Auckland, Harlequins in London and Algida in Italy.
Haden was a controversial player, who was accused of cheating and unsporting conduct by opposing players. The most infamous occurrence of this happened in a match against Wales
at Cardiff Arms Park
in 1978. The score was 12–10 in Wales's favour, when Haden and another New Zealand player, Frank Oliver
, suddenly fell to the ground as if pushed. The referee awarded a penalty in the dying moments of the match, which Brian McKechnie
kicked, winning the game for New Zealand. Later, Welsh
legend JPR Williams wrote that Haden should have been sent off. Despite the controversy however, the referee subsequently stated that the penalty had actually been awarded for an actual infringement against Oliver and not the Haden 'dive' as was thought. Haden doesn't however deny that the attempts to cheat the referee were pre planned, something also confirmed by his captain Graham Mourie
. The match happened on the same day as the annual 'Miss World' competition, which prompted Welsh cartoonist Grens
to create a picture of the 'Miss World' event, but with Miss New Zealand lying on the floor, pretending to have been pushed. Haden made his last Test appearance in 1985 against Argentina
.
In 2003, Andy announced that he was fighting cancer after being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
He is currently an agent for various celebrities. In 2010 Haden was given the honorary position of Rugby World Cup Ambassador, but resigned this post after making controversial statements about a racial quota he alleged the Canterbury Crusaders to be operating, calling Polynesians "darkies", and then suggesting women raped by sports stars may be partly to blame.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player, who was a lock-forward for Auckland
Auckland representative rugby union team
The Auckland representative rugby union team is the top representative rugby union team under the Auckland Rugby Football Union in New Zealand. It competes in the ITM Cup, renamed from the Air New Zealand Cup in 2010....
and New Zealand in the 1970s and 1980s.
Life and career
Born in WanganuiWanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
, New Zealand, he made his All Black debut in 1972, and his Test debut against the British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
in 1977 – going on to make 41 appearances and scoring 2 tries. He played club rugby for Auckland, Harlequins in London and Algida in Italy.
Haden was a controversial player, who was accused of cheating and unsporting conduct by opposing players. The most infamous occurrence of this happened in a match against Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
at Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
in 1978. The score was 12–10 in Wales's favour, when Haden and another New Zealand player, Frank Oliver
Frank Oliver (rugby player)
Francis James "Frank" Oliver was a New Zealand rugby union player. He was born in Dunedin on December 24, 1948, making his provincial debut for Southland in 1969. He later also played for Otago and Manawatu....
, suddenly fell to the ground as if pushed. The referee awarded a penalty in the dying moments of the match, which Brian McKechnie
Brian McKechnie (cricketer)
-External links:*...
kicked, winning the game for New Zealand. Later, Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
legend JPR Williams wrote that Haden should have been sent off. Despite the controversy however, the referee subsequently stated that the penalty had actually been awarded for an actual infringement against Oliver and not the Haden 'dive' as was thought. Haden doesn't however deny that the attempts to cheat the referee were pre planned, something also confirmed by his captain Graham Mourie
Graham Mourie
Graham Neil Kenneth Mourie is a former New Zealand All Black flanker and coach of the Hurricanes. He was one of the great All Black Captains in the late 70s and early 80s...
. The match happened on the same day as the annual 'Miss World' competition, which prompted Welsh cartoonist Grens
Grens
Grens is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.-History:Grens is first mentioned around 1160-89 as de Grens. In 1164 it was mentioned as Graiens and in 1212 as Granz.-Geography:...
to create a picture of the 'Miss World' event, but with Miss New Zealand lying on the floor, pretending to have been pushed. Haden made his last Test appearance in 1985 against Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
In 2003, Andy announced that he was fighting cancer after being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
He is currently an agent for various celebrities. In 2010 Haden was given the honorary position of Rugby World Cup Ambassador, but resigned this post after making controversial statements about a racial quota he alleged the Canterbury Crusaders to be operating, calling Polynesians "darkies", and then suggesting women raped by sports stars may be partly to blame.
External links
- Sporting-Heroes.Net – a profile and picture of Andy Haden