Luke McAlister
Encyclopedia
Charles Luke McAlister is a New Zealand rugby union
footballer. He plays first five-eighths (fly-half) and second five-eighths (inside centre).
McAlister was born in Waitara, New Zealand, and attended Westlake Boys High School, where he played first five-eighths. He played for Silverdale
in the North Harbour premier competition before making his provincial debut for North Harbour
in 2002 and Super 14
debut for the Blues in 2004 He made his international debut for New Zealand aged 21, versus the British and Irish Lions
in 2005.
Luke's ex- wife Brooke Daji gave birth to their daughter Astyn Holly on November 4, 2004 and the couple got married in January 2006 in Fiji. They have separated and their divorce was finalised on April 26th 2010. McAlister has one younger sister named Kayla who plays for the Northern Mystics.
In June 2006, his father, Charlie
, resigned his position as head coach of the Manawatu
team in the Air New Zealand Cup. Charlie McAlister is a former rugby league
player, and Luke McAlister lived in the Manchester area from the age of four to 13 while his father played rugby league for Oldham
, Castleford
and the Sheffield Eagles
, during which time Luke was a member of the Manchester United Academy.
Following the announcement of his inclusion in the All Blacks
squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
, it was announced on 23 July 2007 that McAlister would be joining Guinness Premiership
side Sale Sharks
after the World Cup on a two-year deal. It was also reported that he had turned down offers from both Munster
and Toulouse
to join Sale.
McAlister played in four of the All Blacks' five matches at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, including the 20–18 quarter-final loss to France
, in which he was controversially sent to the sin bin for an obstruction. France converted the resulting penalty, and the sin-binning was cited by many New Zealand fans as one of the reasons why their team lost the match. Over the course of the tournament, McAlister accumulated a total of 17 points.
In 2009 after two seasons with Sale
in the Guinness Premiership
, McAlister returned to New Zealand, where he resigned with North Harbour
and the Blues, with the intention of regaining his place in the national side. He appeared for the All Blacks
as a substitute for Stephen Donald
against France
in Wellington on 20 June 2009.
From 2011 season, McAlister plays for Stade Toulousain
in Top 14 championship, France.
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. He plays first five-eighths (fly-half) and second five-eighths (inside centre).
McAlister was born in Waitara, New Zealand, and attended Westlake Boys High School, where he played first five-eighths. He played for Silverdale
Silverdale, Auckland
Silverdale is a village approximately 30km north of Auckland in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on the north bank of the Weiti River and lies to the west of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula...
in the North Harbour premier competition before making his provincial debut for North Harbour
North Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
in 2002 and Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
debut for the Blues in 2004 He made his international debut for New Zealand aged 21, versus the 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...
in 2005.
Luke's ex- wife Brooke Daji gave birth to their daughter Astyn Holly on November 4, 2004 and the couple got married in January 2006 in Fiji. They have separated and their divorce was finalised on April 26th 2010. McAlister has one younger sister named Kayla who plays for the Northern Mystics.
In June 2006, his father, Charlie
Charlie McAlister
Charlie McAlister is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who played professionally in England and Australia.-Playing career:McAlister played for the Newcastle Knights in 1988. He then moved to England and played for the Oldham Bears between 1988/89 and 1990/91. McAlister earned a Kiwi...
, resigned his position as head coach of the Manawatu
Manawatu Rugby Union
Manawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of the sport of Rugby union in the Manawatu rugby province. The Union is based in the city of Palmerston North but has a catchment area from nearby towns in the province, including Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and...
team in the Air New Zealand Cup. Charlie McAlister is a former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player, and Luke McAlister lived in the Manchester area from the age of four to 13 while his father played rugby league for Oldham
Oldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
, Castleford
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
and the Sheffield Eagles
Sheffield Eagles
Sheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....
, during which time Luke was a member of the Manchester United Academy.
Following the announcement of his inclusion in the All Blacks
All 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....
squad for 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,...
, it was announced on 23 July 2007 that McAlister would be joining Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
side Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
after the World Cup on a two-year deal. It was also reported that he had turned down offers from both Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
and Toulouse
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
to join Sale.
McAlister played in four of the All Blacks' five matches at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, including the 20–18 quarter-final loss to France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
, in which he was controversially sent to the sin bin for an obstruction. France converted the resulting penalty, and the sin-binning was cited by many New Zealand fans as one of the reasons why their team lost the match. Over the course of the tournament, McAlister accumulated a total of 17 points.
In 2009 after two seasons with Sale
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
in the Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
, McAlister returned to New Zealand, where he resigned with North Harbour
North Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
and the Blues, with the intention of regaining his place in the national side. He appeared for the All Blacks
All 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....
as a substitute for Stephen Donald
Stephen Donald
Stephen Donald is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays at First five-eighth or Second five-eighth. Despite an international career that had not lived up to expectations, Donald, aka 'The Beaver', kicked the winning penalty in the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 for New Zealand...
against France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
in Wellington on 20 June 2009.
From 2011 season, McAlister plays for Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
in Top 14 championship, France.