Modern-day All Black greats - where are they now?
Tana Umaga: The former All Black captain is now living in France, running second division side Toulon, but will play his part in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. Umaga will front Tourism New Zealand’s virtual Front Row Rugby Club to draw fans from around the world to New Zealand in 2011.
Zinzan Brooke: The No. 8 great will play a role in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, teaming up with other legends of the game - John Eales, Martin Johnson, Philippe Sella and Joel Stransky - as spokesmen for Visa’s global sponsorship of the tournament. Brooke, a member of the winning 1987 All Blacks, runs a property development business in London, and is recovering from recent brain surgery after a fall in a Spanish street in May.
Michael Jones: One of the greatest flankers in rugby history, Jones is still heavily involved in the game, as coach of Manu Samoa at this year’s World Cup. The 42-year-old father of two, with two university degrees to his name, lives in Auckland where he is a businessman, working on development projects in the Pacific.
Alan Whetton: The only twin to play test rugby for the All Blacks (with brother Gary), Whetton’s office now overlooks one of the world’s great rugby stages - Auckland’s Eden Park. He runs a sports signage company, and is a World Cup commentator for the New Zealand television coverage of the event - alongside fellow All Black legend, Grant Fox. Fox is also a business rival in the sports signage field.
Wayne Shelford: The former All Black captain is back in New Zealand after coaching English club Saracens last year. The ‘87 World Cup winner and his wife Jo run the Wade Hotel north of Auckland, but Shelford is keen to continue coaching. His biggest battle now is against cancer - he is receiving treatment for lymphoma.
John Kirwan: An All Black wing for 10 years, Kirwan returns to the Rugby World Cup as coach of Japan. The former Italian coach has been plagued by depression throughout his life and was this year honoured with a New Zealand Order of Merit award for his work promoting mental health awareness.
Sean Fitzpatrick: Former All Black captain and veteran of 92 caps, Fitzpatrick now lives in England, where his wife is a lawyer and he is a rugby analyst for SKY and the BBC, and in demand as a public speaker.
Christian Cullen: Arguably one of the greatest fullbacks in world rugby, Cullen left New Zealand in 2003 to play for Irish team Munster. Cullen, who holds the All Black test try-scoring record (46 from 58 appearances) retired from all rugby in May this year, and has returned to New Zealand to set up a business.
Jonah Lomu: The world’s most recognised rugby star, Lomu isn’t finished with the game yet. After making an inspirational recovery from a kidney transplant in 2004, 32-year-old Lomu still harbours a dream to play for the All Blacks again. The 63-test veteran is currently considering offers from teams in New Zealand, the UK and France, and a possible switch of code to rugby league.
David Kirk: Captain of the victorious ‘87 All Blacks, Kirk retired straight after the World Cup to take up a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford. He coached Wellington, worked for a New Zealand Prime Minister, and is now chief executive of Fairfax Holdings in Australia.
Joe Stanley: Another ‘87 victor, "Smokin’ Joe" has gone from concrete truck driver to running an Auckland corporate hospitality business - specialising in top sporting events - with former New Zealand netball captain Julie Coney.
Andrew Merhtens: The leading point scorer in All Black history, Merhtens is still playing top-level football, signing up for a one-year contract with French club Toulon. He spent two seasons with English premiership club Harlequins, helping lift the side back to the top-flight. Back in New Zealand, Merhtens has been a part-owner of the Lone Star restaurant in Nelson.
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