Highlanders (rugby union)
The Highlanders (formerly Otago Highlanders called ) are a rugby union team from the New Zealand city of Dunedin. The team plays in the international Super Rugby League. It represents the regional associations Otagu RFU RFU North Otago and Southland rugby. The catchment area of the franchise thus comprises the southern part of the South Island. The home games are since the 2011 season in the Forsyth Barr Stadium, New Zealand's largest indoor arena, discharged. Team colors are royal blue, maroon and gold.
The name of the team was chosen because, in the 19th century, mainly Scots settled in the regions of Otago, North Otago and Southland, from which recruit the fans. The term "Highlander" is meant to symbolize loyalty, strength, honesty and hard work. The team logo is a rollicking inhabitants of the Scottish Highlands is depicted with a shield in one hand and a Claymore in the other hand. To ensure the equivalency of defense and attack will be illustrated.
The team plays mainly in Dunedin. A home game per season but played in Invercargill Rugby Park Stadium, since 2007, one at the Queenstown Events Centre in Queenstown. So far, the Highlanders have reached the semifinals four times and lost every time.
- 2.1 Super 12
- 2.2 Super 14
- 2.3 Super Rugby
Players and coaches
Current squad
The squad for the 2012 season:
Pillar
- Ma'afu Fia
- Chris King
- Jamie Mackintosh (C )
- Bronson Murray
Hooker
- Jason Rutledge
Second - row players
- Josh Bekhuis
- Jarrad Hoeata
- Culum Retallick
Third - row players
- Nick Crosswell
- Elliot Dixon
- John Hardie
- James Haskell
- Nasi Manu
- Adam Thomson
- Doug Tietjens
Scrum half
- Jimmy Cowan
- Aaron Smith
Connector
- Chris Noakes
- Colin Slade
- Lima Sopoaga
Indoor Three Quarter
- Kendrick Lynn
- Tamati Ellison
- Shaun Treeby
Outer three-quarters
- Hosea Gear
- Siale Piutau
- Kade Poki
- Telusa Veainu
Final Men
- Kurt Baker
- Ben Smith
Current coaching staff
- Jamie Joseph ( head coach )
- Simon Culhane ( assistant coach )
- Kieran Keane ( assistant coach )
- Kees Meeuws ( assistant coach )
Well-known former players
- Tony Brown
- Nick Evans
- Rico Gear
- Carl Hayman
- Byron Kelleher
- Josh Kronfeld
- Brian Lima
- Anton Oliver
- Seru Rabeni
- Taine Randell
- Aisea Tuilevu
- Jeff Wilson
Former coach
- Gordon Hunter (1996 )
- Glen Ross ( 1997)
- Tony Gilbert (1998 - 1999)
- Peter Sloane (2000 - 2001)
- Laurie Mains (2002 - 2003)
- Greg Cooper (2003 - 2007)
- Glenn Moore (2008 - 2010)