Stan Wright
Encyclopedia
Stan Wright born 29 September 1978 is a Cook Island international rugby union
player (Cook Islands national rugby union team
) and his current club is Stade Francais in France.
His favoured position is Prop, being able to play both sides of the scrum, a rare skill as most top class front rowers are only able to play at either loose head or tight head prop.
Largely as a result of his strong scrummaging work, heavy tackling work rate and runs of the base of the ruck, not to mention his powerful frame, he is a crowd favourite for club and country.
His previous playing experience was for the Marist Club in Whangarei
, and for Northland
in the Air New Zealand Cup
alongside current world rugby super star Rupeni Caucaunibuca
. He was also part of the Auckland Blues squad for the 2006 Super 14
season, however had to withdraw through injury. Wright was selected in the Magners Dream Team 2007/08 along with six other players from Leinster
. Leinster ended up with seven stars in the team with Cardiff Blues, Edinburgh and Ospreys providing two players each. Wright was voted by his peers the IRUPA Sports Unsung Hero for the season 08/09. He is extremely popular with the Leinster supporters and he has earned the nickname 'Cookie Monster' because of his home nation, the Cook Islands.
To date, Wright had amassed over 60 official Leinster caps.
He is now realising managerial potential by taking over as forwards coach for Suttonians RFC
for the 09/10 season.
Stan's mother, Poila Wright (Mama Tuki) was awarded an OBE
in 2007.
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 (Cook Islands national rugby union team
Cook Islands national rugby union team
The Cook Islands is a third tier rugby union playing nation. They began playing international rugby in the early 1971. Thus far, the Cook Islands have not made an appearance at any of the World Cups.-History:...
) and his current club is Stade Francais in France.
His favoured position is Prop, being able to play both sides of the scrum, a rare skill as most top class front rowers are only able to play at either loose head or tight head prop.
Largely as a result of his strong scrummaging work, heavy tackling work rate and runs of the base of the ruck, not to mention his powerful frame, he is a crowd favourite for club and country.
His previous playing experience was for the Marist Club in Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
, and for Northland
Northland Rugby Union
The Northland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Northland region of New Zealand.-History:Rugby was first played in Northland in the 1870s, and the first union was set up in the province in 1895, known as the Marsden Football Union. The Northland union was founded in...
in the Air New Zealand Cup
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
alongside current world rugby super star Rupeni Caucaunibuca
Rupeni Caucaunibuca
-Early years:Caucaunibuca or "Rups", as called by those who knew him, grew up most of his life in the village. Caucaunibuca's father was a church minister based around the Bua province on the northern parts of Fiji so his family frequently moved....
. He was also part of the Auckland Blues squad for the 2006 Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
season, however had to withdraw through injury. Wright was selected in the Magners Dream Team 2007/08 along with six other players from Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
. Leinster ended up with seven stars in the team with Cardiff Blues, Edinburgh and Ospreys providing two players each. Wright was voted by his peers the IRUPA Sports Unsung Hero for the season 08/09. He is extremely popular with the Leinster supporters and he has earned the nickname 'Cookie Monster' because of his home nation, the Cook Islands.
To date, Wright had amassed over 60 official Leinster caps.
He is now realising managerial potential by taking over as forwards coach for Suttonians RFC
Suttonians RFC
Suttonians Rugby Football Club, now in its 85th year of existence, is affiliated to the Irish Rugby Football Union. The first team play in Division 3 of the All Ireland League....
for the 09/10 season.
Stan's mother, Poila Wright (Mama Tuki) was awarded an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 2007.