Christian Cullen

As of April 25, 2008

Christian Mathias Cullen ( born February 12, 1976 in Paraparaumu, New Zealand ) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He is considered the best player of his generation run.

Career

At the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament 7- 1996, the young Christian Cullen put the record number of 18 attempts, including seven in one game; in the same year his breakthrough in Fifteen Rugby succeeded in the first Super 12 season, where he played for the Wellington Hurricanes. He put most of the attempts of the team this season and was called to the national team, although many critics considered him too young. Due to its unpredictable running strength and speed, he justified his appointment and due to its attractive style of play he was very popular with the viewers.

The Rugby World Cup ended in 1999 for the All Blacks with the fourth unsuccessful and Christian Cullen he had to play in the unfamiliar position for him the second inner three quarter, before he re-embraced his former circuit position after the retirement.

Lengthy knee problems made ​​in 2002 require surgery. Towards the end of the season Cullen returned to the field, but showed no longer the same benefits as to its heyday, as he had lost speed. Until 2003, he continued to play for the national team, but was not called despite rising curve shape in the squad for the 2003 World Cup in Australia. The final of the NPC ( National Provincial Championship ) in the same year was his last game for Wellington and although the enemy Auckland won the game, he was celebrated by the entire audience.

After this game, he moved to Ireland to play for the team, Munster Rugby. A shoulder injury cost him almost the entire first season. Other injuries to the Achilles tendon, calf and ankle prevented him from playing a long time at a stretch, but even though it existed deals from New Zealand and France, Cullen extended his contract in July 2006 for one year. In April 2007, he played his last game for Munster and moved to end of his career back to New Zealand.

Records

Christian Cullen still holds the record for most attempts in the Tri-Nations Tournament (16). He was also the first player to put a try in a season in each Tri-Nations game in 2000. During his time in New Zealand he put 150 tests in the NPC and Super 12, where he still with 56 experiments the holds second place behind Joe Roff.

Biography

In October 2003, the biography of Christian Cullen appeared: Life on the Run by John Matheson; Cullen's criticism of the then coach John Mitchell triggered a major reaction in the media.

Swell