Zac Guilford
Encyclopedia
Note: Not to be confused with Zach Gilford
Zachary Robert Guildford (born 8 February 1989) is a World Cup Winning New Zealand Rugby Union
player who plays for the Crusaders in the Super 15. He also plays provincial rugby for Hawke's Bay
and was selected for the All Blacks
end of year tour in 2009 and the 2010 Steinlager Series. Guildford played for the All Blacks during the Rugby World Cup 2011.
, New Zealand. He is the son of Deborah and Robert Guildford. He has one younger brother, Victor. When Zac was 10 years old his family moved to Napier
, Hawke's Bay
where he went through the rugby academy system. He attended Napier Boys' High School
. Zac's inclusion in the New Zealand All Blacks
came after a remarkable national representative career with New Zealand Secondary Schools, Under 19 and two seasons with the New Zealand Under 20.
at the U19 World Cup
in 2007. He then represented New Zealand
at the JWC
in 2008. In his final season at International age grade level the following year, Guildford again played for New Zealand
, in that year's JWC
hosted in Japan. Tragically, his father Robert died suddenly shortly after the conclusion of the Final against England.
Guildford was first selected for the All Blacks
for the end of year tour in 2009 and was the youngest player in the squad. He made his All Blacks Debut against Wales on 7 November 2009 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. In 2010 he was selected for the Steinlager Series. Guildford was selected for the All Blacks tri-nations squad the following year and was later selected in the 30-man All Blacks 2011 Rugby World Cup squad, though he did not play until New Zealand's final pool match of the tournament, where he contributed four tries to the All Blacks' 79-15 victory over Canada
.
in the Air New Zealand Cup
, Guildford was chosen for the Hurricanes
2008 season. Guildford managed to play six matches in the 2008 Super 14
(even though he broke his arm pre-season), starting all of these matches except his first match against the Stormers
. Guildford also managed to score three tries in his first season. In 2009 he played in 10 matches, most of them as a starter, scoring 4 tries. In 2009 he was secured by the Crusaders for the 2010 season.
. He made his debut for Hawke's Bay
in 2007 when he was only 18. Being the youngest player in the squad didn't stop him though, as he managed to play in twelve of the provinces matches in a year that they made the semi-finals. Guildford also managed to run in five tries for the season, two coming in the 30–26 win over Waikato
. Guildford went on to be one of the leading try scorers in 2009 with 13 tries, most of them through his trade mark kick and chase. He is arguably one of the quickest players in New Zealand Rugby.
in New Delhi. They won the Gold Medal against Australia.
, where he has been accused of drunken naked assaults during an alcohol-fuelled series of incidents. He had since apologized for his actions and admitted to alcoholism.
Zach Gilford
Zach Gilford is an American actor best known for his role as Matt Saracen on the NBC television drama series Friday Night Lights. Gilford starred alongside Terrell Owens in the 2008 NBA Celebrity All-Star game....
Zachary Robert Guildford (born 8 February 1989) is a World Cup Winning New Zealand 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 in the Super 15. He also plays provincial rugby for Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. The union is based in Napier.-Representative rugby:...
and was selected 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....
end of year tour in 2009 and the 2010 Steinlager Series. Guildford played for the All Blacks during the Rugby World Cup 2011.
Early life
Zac Guildford was born on 8 February 1989 in GreytownGreytown, New Zealand
Greytown or Te Hupenui, population 2,001 , is a town in the Wellington region of New Zealand. It lies in the Wairarapa, in the lower North Island...
, New Zealand. He is the son of Deborah and Robert Guildford. He has one younger brother, Victor. When Zac was 10 years old his family moved to Napier
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
, Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
where he went through the rugby academy system. He attended Napier Boys' High School
Napier Boys' High School
Napier Boys High School is a state secondary school on Chambers St, in Te Awa, Napier, New Zealand. It currently has a school roll of 1200 pupils.- Sport :...
. Zac's inclusion in the New Zealand 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....
came after a remarkable national representative career with New Zealand Secondary Schools, Under 19 and two seasons with the New Zealand Under 20.
International
Guildford first represented New ZealandNew Zealand national under-19 rugby union team
The New Zealand Under 19's rugby team was a team for players aged under 19 as a platform to the All Blacks. The New Zealand Under 19's have joined forces with the New Zealand Under 21's to make the new team New Zealand Under 20's for the all new IRB Junior World Championship, which commenced in...
at the U19 World Cup
2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship
The International Rugby Board awarded the 2007 Under 19 Rugby World Championship to the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Ulster branch hosted it. The Tournament, which took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland from 4-21 April, was split into two divisions of twelve teams...
in 2007. He then represented New Zealand
New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team
The New Zealand under 20 rugby team are the newest representative rugby union team from New Zealand. They replace the two former age grade teams Under 19's and Under 21's. Their first tournament was the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship, which they won after defeating England 38–3 in the final....
at the JWC
2008 IRB Junior World Championship
9th-12th Place Playoffs5th-8th Places Playoffs1st place playoffs- Semi-finals :----- 3rd place playoffs :-Final:-External links:*...
in 2008. In his final season at International age grade level the following year, Guildford again played for New Zealand
New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team
The New Zealand under 20 rugby team are the newest representative rugby union team from New Zealand. They replace the two former age grade teams Under 19's and Under 21's. Their first tournament was the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship, which they won after defeating England 38–3 in the final....
, in that year's JWC
2009 IRB Junior World Championship
-Pool B:---------------------Pool C:---------------------Pool D:---------------------13th Place Play-offs:Play-off Semi Finals----15th Place Final13th Place Final----...
hosted in Japan. Tragically, his father Robert died suddenly shortly after the conclusion of the Final against England.
Guildford was first selected 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....
for the end of year tour in 2009 and was the youngest player in the squad. He made his All Blacks Debut against Wales on 7 November 2009 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. In 2010 he was selected for the Steinlager Series. Guildford was selected for the All Blacks tri-nations squad the following year and was later selected in the 30-man All Blacks 2011 Rugby World Cup squad, though he did not play until New Zealand's final pool match of the tournament, where he contributed four tries to the All Blacks' 79-15 victory over Canada
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
.
Super Rugby
After a strong season with Hawke's BayHawke's Bay Rugby Union
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. The union is based in Napier.-Representative rugby:...
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...
, Guildford was chosen for the Hurricanes
Hurricanes (Super rugby franchise)
The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition...
2008 season. Guildford managed to play six matches in the 2008 Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
(even though he broke his arm pre-season), starting all of these matches except his first match against the Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...
. Guildford also managed to score three tries in his first season. In 2009 he played in 10 matches, most of them as a starter, scoring 4 tries. In 2009 he was secured by the Crusaders for the 2010 season.
Hawke's Bay
Guildford is one of the youngest players to play in the Air New Zealand CupAir 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...
. He made his debut for Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. The union is based in Napier.-Representative rugby:...
in 2007 when he was only 18. Being the youngest player in the squad didn't stop him though, as he managed to play in twelve of the provinces matches in a year that they made the semi-finals. Guildford also managed to run in five tries for the season, two coming in the 30–26 win over Waikato
Waikato Rugby Union
The Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Its senior representative team competes in the ITM Cup , and won the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.Waikato Rugby Union was founded in 1921...
. Guildford went on to be one of the leading try scorers in 2009 with 13 tries, most of them through his trade mark kick and chase. He is arguably one of the quickest players in New Zealand Rugby.
Sevens
Guildford was included in the New Zealand sevens squad that competed in the 2010 Commonwealth Games2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
in New Delhi. They won the Gold Medal against Australia.
Controversy surrounding alcoholism
On November 11, 2011, Guildford had been cited in RarotongaRarotonga
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
, where he has been accused of drunken naked assaults during an alcohol-fuelled series of incidents. He had since apologized for his actions and admitted to alcoholism.