John Schwalger

As of July 1, 2008 National: June 7, 2008

John Schwalger ( born September 28, 1983 in Apia, Samoa) is a New Zealand Rugby Union player on the position of the pillar.

His parents moved to his birth from Apia to New Zealand. His career began Schwalger with the New Zealand Secondary Schools team before he was appointed to the New Zealand U -21 team in 2004. In that year he also won the U -21 World Cup. In 2005 he was a member of the extended training group the Hurricanes for the Super 12 (now Super 14). He made his debut in 2005 for Wellington against the touring British and Irish Lions and played for them in the subsequent National Provincial Championship season (NPC, since renamed Air New Zealand Cup).

Schwalger was appointed to the Super 14 season in 2006 in the cadre of Hurricanes and took his chance by forcing himself with his good performances a place as a regular player. As a result of his good form he was appointed to the crew of the Junior All Blacks and won with it the IRB Pacific 5 Nations. After another successful Air New Zealand Cup season - in which he played on both sides of scrimmage, he was appointed again in 2007 the Hurricanes in the Super 14.

After the 2007 Super 14 season, he was appointed to the Executive of the New Zealand national team ( All Blacks ) for the Tri Nations 2007, and was with Brendon Leonard one of two debutants of the team. His nomination was the biggest surprise in the selection, as it was the proven pillars Clarke Dermody and John Afoa preferred. However, he did not make it into the squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, because of the previously long injured Greg Somerville returned to the team.