Byron Kelleher

Infobox Rugby biography

name = Byron Kelleher


birthname = Byron Terrance Kelleher
nickname = Wazza, The Wazzman
dateofbirth =
birthyear = 1976
birthmonth = 12
birthday = 3
placeofbirth = Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
allblackid = 452
allblackno = 983
height = height|m=1.75
weight = convert|95|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position =Half-back|capital=yes
ru_currentclub =
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs = flagicon|New Zealand Kaikori Rugby Club
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalyears = 1999-present
ru_nationalteam = flagicon|New Zealand New Zealand
ru_nationalcaps = 57
ru_nationalpoints = (40)
ru_ntupdate = 5 July 2008
super14 = flagicon|New Zealand Highlanders flagicon|New Zealand Chiefs
super14caps = 54 38
super14points = (100)
super14years = 1998-2003 2004-2007
super14update = 5 July 2007
ru_province = flagicon|New Zealand Otago flagicon|New Zealand Waikato
ru_provinceyears = 1997-2003 2004-2007
ru_provincecaps = 60
ru_provincepoints = (85)
ru_provinceupdate = 5 July 2007
ru_clubyears = 2007-present
ru_proclubs = flagicon|FRA Toulouse
ru_clubcaps = 23
ru_clubpoints = (10)
ru_clubupdate = 5 July 2008
other = yes
occupation = Professional Rugby Union Footballer
school = Otago Boys High School
URL =

Byron Terrance Kelleher (born 3 December 1976 in Dunedin, New Zealand) was a New Zealand rugby union Half-back for the New Zealand All Blacks, with whom he has played over 50 tests. He went to Otago Boys' High School, and originally played for Otago in the NPC and the Highlanders in the Super 14, moving north in 2004 to play for Waikato and the Chiefs. He is 1.75m tall and weighs 95 kg. He was New Zealand's Super 12 Player of the Year in 1999. After meeting in 2005 Kelleher began a high profile relationship with pornography star Kaylani Lei, which ended in June 2006.

Kelleher had signed a contract to play for Agen in the French Top 14 after the 2007 Rugby World Cup; [cite news |first=Nick |last=Cain |title=Player exodus threatens world order |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article1719922.ece |publisher=The Sunday Times |date=2007-04-29 |accessdate=2007-04-30] however, the club's relegation to the second-level Rugby Pro D2 after the 2006-07 season caused the contract to be cancelled. Kelleher went on to sign with traditional Top 14 powers Toulouse, effective with the end of the Rugby World Cup.He won the "Bouclier de Brennus" (the French Rugby Union Title) in his first season with the Stade Toulousain, and was elected by the Top 14 players as the season's best player.

He is known as an unpredictable and unorthodox halfback, with his speed and strength, sometimes preferring to run with the ball and make line-breaks rather than passing the ball after rucks and mauls.

Notes and references

External links

*All Blacks|452
* [http://www.chiefs.co.nz/index.php?pid=9&playerid=10334 Chiefs profile]

Persondata
NAME=Kelleher, Byron
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=New Zealand rugby union player
DATE OF BIRTH=Birth date and age|1976|12|3|mf=y
PLACE OF BIRTH=Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=