Tom Donnelly
Encyclopedia
Thomas Mathew Donnelly (born 1 October 1981 in Rotorua
, New Zealand) is a rugby union
player who plays for the Crusaders Super Rugby team, and provincial rugby for Otago
. He has also made 15 appearances for the All Blacks
since 2009.
, and made his debut for Otago in 2002. He quickly established himself as a fixture at lock for the province, and by 2005 was one of the standout players in the provincial championship, forming a dynamic partnership with James Ryan.
Although injuries and international duty have limited his availability for Otago, he remained a fixture in the squad, captaining the team for a stretch in 2007 in place of an injured Craig Newby
. In 2008, he played his 50th match for the province.
Due to a shoulder injury and his time with the All Blacks
, Donnelly made only a single appearance for Otago in the 2010 ITM Cup
. However, in the 2011 ITM Cup
he appeared in every game, serving as team captain for the majority of the season following an injury to Eben Joubert
.
, but was limited to only two appearances. However, he emerged as a full-time starter through the 2005 and 2006 seasons, starting 20 out of 24 games over that period.
After losing most of the 2007 Super 14 season
to injury, he returned in 2008 in top form, marking himself as a future All Black. A strong 2009
would eventually see that promise fulfilled, as he cracked the national side for the first time at the conclusion of the year.
Donnelly started the first 5 games of the 2010 Super 14 season
before being ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a serious ankle injury. Back healthy in 2011, he found himself in an unfamiliar position coming off the bench as the strong play of Josh Bekhuis
and Jarrad Hoeata
kept him out of the starting line-up.
After a disappointing season in 2011, Donnelly transferred to the Crusaders for the 2012 season.
for several years, first being selected to the Junior All Blacks
in 2006. He was again selected for the Junior All Blacks in 2007, and to an All Blacks wider training group in 2008.
After being selected to the Junior All Blacks again in 2009, Donnelly was called into the full squad due to an injury to Bryn Evans and made his debut against Australia in the final Tri Nations
game ofrthe season on 22 September.
On the 2009 end of year tour, Donnelly featured in all 5 matches, earning positive reviews for his steady play.
In the 2010 Tri Nations
tournament, Donelly played perhaps the finest rugby of his career as one of the form players for the All Blacks, starting every match as New Zealand went undefeated in the tournament. However, his international season would end on a sour note as he injured his knee against Ireland, ruling him out of the remainder of the end of year tour.
The All Blacks currently have a record of 14 wins against only 1 loss in games in which Donnelly has featured.
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
, New Zealand) is a 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...
player who plays for the Crusaders Super Rugby team, and provincial rugby for Otago
Otago Rugby Football Union
The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago Region of New Zealand. The union is based in the city of Dunedin, and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium. The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial...
. He has also made 15 appearances 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....
since 2009.
Provincial Rugby
Born in Rotorua, Donnelly moved south in 2000 to attend the University of OtagoUniversity of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, and made his debut for Otago in 2002. He quickly established himself as a fixture at lock for the province, and by 2005 was one of the standout players in the provincial championship, forming a dynamic partnership with James Ryan.
Although injuries and international duty have limited his availability for Otago, he remained a fixture in the squad, captaining the team for a stretch in 2007 in place of an injured Craig Newby
Craig Newby
Craig Newby is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership....
. In 2008, he played his 50th match for the province.
Due to a shoulder injury and his time with 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....
, Donnelly made only a single appearance for Otago in the 2010 ITM Cup
2010 ITM Cup
The 2010 ITM Cup was the 34th provincial rugby union competition, the fifth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the first under the new sponsor of ITM , involving the top 14 provincial unions of New Zealand...
. However, in the 2011 ITM Cup
2011 ITM Cup
The 2011 ITM Cup is the 35th provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand, the sixth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the second under the new sponsor of ITM ....
he appeared in every game, serving as team captain for the majority of the season following an injury to Eben Joubert
Eben Joubert
Eben Joubert is a South African rugby union player currently playing in New Zealand for Otago in the ITM Cup competition...
.
Super Rugby
Donnelly earned a place on the Highlanders for the first time for the 2004 Super 12 season2004 Super 12 season
The 2004 Super 12 season was the ninth season of the Super 12, contested by teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The season ran from February to May 2004, with each team playing all the others once. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams entered the playoff semi finals,...
, but was limited to only two appearances. However, he emerged as a full-time starter through the 2005 and 2006 seasons, starting 20 out of 24 games over that period.
After losing most of the 2007 Super 14 season
2007 Super 14 season
The 2007 Super 14 season started in February 2007 with preseason matches held from mid-January. It finished on 19 May with the final at ABSA Stadium in Durban, in the first final between two South African teams in the history of Super Rugby...
to injury, he returned in 2008 in top form, marking himself as a future All Black. A strong 2009
2009 Super 14 season
The 2009 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2009 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 30 May, when the Bulls won their second Super Rugby title with a decisive 61–17 victory over the Waikato Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. The 2009 season...
would eventually see that promise fulfilled, as he cracked the national side for the first time at the conclusion of the year.
Donnelly started the first 5 games of the 2010 Super 14 season
2010 Super 14 season
The 2010 Super 14 season kicked off in February 2010 with pre-season matches held from mid-January. It finished on 29 May. The 2010 season was the fifth and last season of the expanded Super 14 format. The schedule, which covers 3½ months, featured a total of 94 matches, with each team playing one...
before being ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a serious ankle injury. Back healthy in 2011, he found himself in an unfamiliar position coming off the bench as the strong play of Josh Bekhuis
Josh Bekhuis
Joshua Bekhuis is a professional rugby union player who plays at lock for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition and provincially for Southland in the ITM Cup.-Provincial Rugby:...
and Jarrad Hoeata
Jarrad Hoeata
Jarrad Hoeata is a professional rugby union player who plays for the Highlanders in Super Rugby and represents Taranaki in the ITM Cup...
kept him out of the starting line-up.
After a disappointing season in 2011, Donnelly transferred to the Crusaders for the 2012 season.
International Play
Donnelly was on the fringes of 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....
for several years, first being selected to the Junior All Blacks
Junior 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....
in 2006. He was again selected for the Junior All Blacks in 2007, and to an All Blacks wider training group in 2008.
After being selected to the Junior All Blacks again in 2009, Donnelly was called into the full squad due to an injury to Bryn Evans and made his debut against Australia in the final Tri Nations
Tri Nations
Tri Nations may refer to:In Rugby union:* Tri Nations , the former name of The Rugby Championship a competition featuring Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa* Pacific Tri-Nations, the series between Fiji, Samoa and Tonga...
game ofrthe season on 22 September.
On the 2009 end of year tour, Donnelly featured in all 5 matches, earning positive reviews for his steady play.
In the 2010 Tri Nations
2010 Tri Nations Series
The 2010 Tri Nations Series is the fifteenth annual Tri Nations rugby union series between the national rugby union teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, respectively nicknamed the All Blacks, Wallabies, and Springboks...
tournament, Donelly played perhaps the finest rugby of his career as one of the form players for the All Blacks, starting every match as New Zealand went undefeated in the tournament. However, his international season would end on a sour note as he injured his knee against Ireland, ruling him out of the remainder of the end of year tour.
The All Blacks currently have a record of 14 wins against only 1 loss in games in which Donnelly has featured.