Zinzan Brooke
Encyclopedia
Zinzan Valentine Brooke (born Murray Zinzan Brooke on 14 February 1965; changed name by deed poll
) is a former New Zealand rugby union
footballer who played at number eight. His brother, Marty Brooke, played for Auckland and Southland at provincial level, and his brother Robin Brooke
played lock for Auckland and New Zealand.
, captained Auckland Blues to Super 12 championships in 1996 and 1997 and was an influential figure in Auckland's dominance in the National Provincial Championship
during the late 1980s and 1990s. He scored 17 tries in Test matches, then a world record for a forward. He also played for New Zealand Māori
.
Brooke was a founding player of the Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok)
, playing in the inaugural side in 1994 against Taradale RFC. In 1995 his biography 'Zinny: The Zinzan Brooke story', written with Alex Veysey, was published
Brooke is considered one of the best number eights to have ever played for the All Blacks
. He had the running and kicking skills of a backline player which made him extremely mobile and agile as a forward. He once kicked a 47-metre drop goal during a 1995 Rugby World Cup match, one of three he scored in Test matches.
In 2007, former England centre and captain Will Carling
published his list of the '50 Greatest Rugby players' in The Daily Telegraph
, and ranked Brooke the eighth greatest player of all time, stating; "For a forward his skills were outrageous. As comfortable playing sevens as 15s, he had better kicking and handling skills than some fly-halves playing international rugby. You align that with his strength and ability as a forward to read the game – he was unique
".
, and later coach it. During the 2002/03 season he played for Coventry
in National Division One. He now plays amateur rugby union for Windsor
Rugby Club in Berkshire, England.
Zinzan now runs a boutique B&B in Windsor, Berkshire with his wife.
In 2011, while back in New Zealand
for Rugby World Cup
2011, Brooke was inducted into the TVNZ This Is Your Life
wall of fame.
His family joined him from England
at the Auckland
viaduct for the live show.
Special guests included his four brothers, Buck Shelford and Michael Jones
.
, both before and after his rugby career. Initially he was introduced to the game by fellow All Black Bernie McCahill
at Auckland Gaels Gaelic Football Club. While living in London after his career he also turned out for St. Brendan's of London.
It was widely reported that he signed a contract to play rugby league
for Graham Lowe's Manly
club in the early 1990s, but subsequently changed his mind and stayed with rugby union.
Deed poll
A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...
) is a former 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...
footballer who played at number eight. His brother, Marty Brooke, played for Auckland and Southland at provincial level, and his brother Robin Brooke
Robin Brooke
Robin Matthew Brooke is a former New Zealand rugby player. He played for the All Blacks n the 1990s, playing many tests alongside younger brother Zinzan Brooke...
played lock for Auckland and New Zealand.
Career
Brooke played 58 tests for New Zealand, and 42 non-international matches for 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....
, captained Auckland Blues to Super 12 championships in 1996 and 1997 and was an influential figure in Auckland's dominance in the 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...
during the late 1980s and 1990s. He scored 17 tries in Test matches, then a world record for a forward. He also played for New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
.
Brooke was a founding player of the Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok)
Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok)
The Southerners Sports Club is an informal, non-commercial Bangkok-based club of expats and Thais. The Southerners field teams in Bangkok's local rugby, netball, touch rugby and cricket competitions, and also tour to neighbouring countries for regional-based sports tournaments.The club aims to...
, playing in the inaugural side in 1994 against Taradale RFC. In 1995 his biography 'Zinny: The Zinzan Brooke story', written with Alex Veysey, was published
Brooke is considered one of the best number eights to have ever played 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....
. He had the running and kicking skills of a backline player which made him extremely mobile and agile as a forward. He once kicked a 47-metre drop goal during a 1995 Rugby World Cup match, one of three he scored in Test matches.
In 2007, former England centre and captain Will Carling
Will Carling
William David Charles Carling, OBE is a former Rugby union player for Harlequins, and a former captain of England from 1988 to 1996, winning 72 caps.-Early life:...
published his list of the '50 Greatest Rugby players' in The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, and ranked Brooke the eighth greatest player of all time, stating; "For a forward his skills were outrageous. As comfortable playing sevens as 15s, he had better kicking and handling skills than some fly-halves playing international rugby. You align that with his strength and ability as a forward to read the game – he was unique
".
Retirement
In 1997 he retired from international rugby union and moved to England to play for HarlequinsHarlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
, and later coach it. During the 2002/03 season he played for Coventry
Coventry R.F.C.
Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the city of Coventry, England. The club enjoyed national success during the 1960s and the 1970s, with many of its players playing for their countries....
in National Division One. He now plays amateur rugby union for Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
Rugby Club in Berkshire, England.
Zinzan now runs a boutique B&B in Windsor, Berkshire with his wife.
In 2011, while back in New Zealand
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...
for Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
2011, Brooke was inducted into the TVNZ This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life (New Zealand TV series)
This Is Your Life is a New Zealand television documentary show based on the American show of the same name, in which the host surprises guests with a show documenting their lives, with audience participation from their friends and family....
wall of fame.
His family joined him from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
at the Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
viaduct for the live show.
Special guests included his four brothers, Buck Shelford and Michael Jones
Michael Jones
- Athletes :* Mike Jones , welterweight boxer* Mike Jones , English expedition canoeist* Mike Jones , American freestyle motocross rider also known as "Mad Mike Jones"...
.
Accident
Brooke suffered head trauma in May 2007 while falling out of a taxi in the Spanish town of Elche, though the circumstances are unclear.Other sports
As well as rugby union, Brooke played Gaelic footballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
, both before and after his rugby career. Initially he was introduced to the game by fellow All Black Bernie McCahill
Bernie McCahill
Bernard Joseph McCahill was born on 28 June 1964 in Auckland, New Zealand. He was educated at St Peter's College. He is a former rugby union footballer who played for the All Blacks. He played in two positions, Second five-eighth and centre three-quarter. he played 32 matches for the All Blacks...
at Auckland Gaels Gaelic Football Club. While living in London after his career he also turned out for St. Brendan's of London.
It was widely reported that he signed a contract to play 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...
for Graham Lowe's Manly
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
club in the early 1990s, but subsequently changed his mind and stayed with rugby union.