Rodney Blake

Infobox Rugby Union biography
playername = Rodney Blake


fullname = Rodney Blake
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|4|29|df=yes
cityofbirth = Sa'aveki
countryofbirth =Tonga
height = convert|192|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|132|kg|stlb|abbr=on
nickname = Rodzilla
school = Homebush Boys High
university =
relatives =
position = Prop
currentclub = Queensland Reds
clubnumber = 3 and 17
youthyears =
youthclubs = West Harbour Juniors
years =
clubs =
caps(points) =
ru_provinceyears = 2004 ‐
ru_province = Sunnybank
ru_provincecaps = 25 (5)
super14years = 2005 ‐
super14 = Queensland Reds
super14caps = 25 (5)
youthrepyears =
youthrepteam = Australian Schoolboys
Australia U-21
youthrepcaps(points) = 5
repyears = 2006 ‐
repteam = Australia
repcaps(points) = 7 (5)
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcomp =
pcupdate =
repupdate =

Rodney Blake (born 29 April, 1983 in Tonga) is an Australian rugby union footballer. He plays prop for the Queensland Reds in the Super 14 competition. He is sometimes referred to as Rodzilla. His father Paul was a flanker with the New Zealand side Otago in the National Provincial Championship (NPC). In June 2006, Blake made his debut for the Wallabies.

He moved to Australia with his family when he was 13. He played junior rugby for the West Harbour Juniors and was educated at Homebush Boys High School. Blake would represent Australia at rugby union in the national under-21 side during at the world cup in Scotland. He made his debut for the Queensland Reds in a Super 12 (now Super 14) match against the Otago Highlanders. He has been a regular in the Reds' lineup during the 2006 Super 14 season. He was named in John Connolly's Wallaby side, and made his debut against England at Telstra Stadium, playing the full 80 minutes. In the closing minutes of the match Blake charged over to score the final try of the game which saw Australia win 34 to 3. He was injured in the subsequent victory over England, and thus missed the following match against Ireland.

After missing the opening matches of the 2006 Tri Nations Series Blake was included in the Wallabies sided for the Bledisloe Cup clash in Brisbane with the All Blacks. The match eventually went the way of the All Blacks, who won 13 to nine. He was named the Reds Play of the Year in October, being awarded the Pilecki Medal.cite web | work=abc.com.au | title=Rodzilla named as Reds' best in 2006 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200610/s1757952.htm| accessdate=8 October | accessyear=2006]

After failing to get a 2009 Super 14 contract in Australia Blake took up an offer to play club in France.

References

External links

* [http://www.redsrugby.com.au/reds/reds.rugby/page/40215 Queensland profile]
* [http://www.qru.com.au/reds/reds.rugby/page/38047 QRU profile]
* [http://www.sarugby.com/news/Player/pid=226.html SARugby.com profile]