John Schwalger
Encyclopedia
John Schwalger is a New Zealand
rugby union
footballer and plays at prop.
.
with that team in 2004.
Super 12
(now Super 14) wider training group. He debuted for Wellington
in the 2005 against the touring British and Irish Lions
, and played for them in that year's National Provincial Championship
. He was selected for the Hurricanes squad for the 2006 Super 14 and eventually forced his way into the starting line-up.
, and played for the team as they won the 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations
. After another successful 2006 Air New Zealand Cup season — where he propped both sides of the scrum
, he returned to the Hurricanes in 2007.
training squad, and was one of only two non-capped players in the squad. His inclusion was the biggest surprise of the squad — as he was picked ahead of capped props Clarke Dermody
and John Afoa
. Ultimately, he was the final cut from the 2007 Rugby World Cup
squad, as the previously injured Greg Somerville
was declared fit to play and took up the final place in the squad.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rugby union
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...
footballer and plays at prop.
Early life
Schwalger moved to New Zealand after being born in Apia. He is the nephew of Samoa international Mahonri SchwalgerMahonri Schwalger
Mahonri Schwalger is a professional rugby union footballer who plays for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby competition and for Taranaki in the ITM Cup. He is also currently the captain of the Samoan national team....
.
Career
His representative career started with the New Zealand Secondary Schools team, before being included in New Zealand's Under 21 team in 2004. He won the Under 21 Rugby World CupUnder 21 Rugby World Championship
The IRB Under 21 Rugby World Cup was the premier tournament for male rugby union players under the age of 21, organised by the sports governing body the International Rugby Board annually from 2002 through 2006...
with that team in 2004.
Hurricanes and Wellington
In 2005 was a member of the HurricanesHurricanes (Super rugby franchise)
The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition...
Super 12
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
(now Super 14) wider training group. He debuted for Wellington
Wellington Rugby Football Union
The Wellington Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the city of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand...
in the 2005 against the touring British and Irish 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...
, and played for them in that year's National Provincial Championship
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
. He was selected for the Hurricanes squad for the 2006 Super 14 and eventually forced his way into the starting line-up.
Junior All Blacks
Following his Super 14 form in 2006 he was selected for the Junior All BlacksJunior All Blacks
The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team....
, and played for the team as they won the 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations
2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations
The 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations was the inaugural IRB Pacific 5 Nations rugby union competition held between five Pacific Rim sides; Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks...
. After another successful 2006 Air New Zealand Cup season — where he propped both sides of the scrum
Scrum (rugby)
Scrum , in the sports of rugby union and rugby league, is a way of restarting the game, either after an accidental infringement or when the ball has gone out of play...
, he returned to the Hurricanes in 2007.
All Blacks
Following the 2007 Super 14 he was selected in the All BlacksAll Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
training squad, and was one of only two non-capped players in the squad. His inclusion was the biggest surprise of the squad — as he was picked ahead of capped props Clarke Dermody
Clarke Dermody
Clarke Dermody is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays as a prop. He was first selected for the All Blacks in 2006 for the test series against Ireland and Argentina ....
and John Afoa
John Afoa
Ioane Fitu "John" Afoa is a New Zealand professional Rugby union player and plays prop and hooker. Afoa currently plays for Ulster after signing a two-and-a-half year deal after the 2011 Rugby World Cup.-Representative Rugby:...
. Ultimately, he was the final cut from the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
squad, as the previously injured Greg Somerville
Greg Somerville
Greg Mardon Somerville is a New Zealand rugby union player. He is a former All Black and a specialised tighthead prop who can also play loosehead. Somerville made his All Black debut in 2000 against Tonga, a match in which the All Blacks won 102–0...
was declared fit to play and took up the final place in the squad.