Zinzan Brooke

Rugger
name = Zinzan Brooke


caption =
birthname = Zinzan Valentine Brooke
(originally Murray Zinzan Brooke)
nickname =
birthyear = 1965
placeofbirth = Waiuku, New Zealand
birthmonth = 02
birthday = 14
height =
weight =
ru_position = Number 8|short=yes or flanker
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = All Blacks
ru_nationalyears = 1987-1997
ru_nationalcaps = 58
ru_nationalpoints = (89)
ru_ntupdate = 2006-09-12
super14 = Auckland Blues
super14years =1996-1997
super14caps =
super14points =
super14update = 2006-09-12
ru_clubyears = 1997-2001
ru_proclubs = Harlequins
ru_clubpoints =
ru_clubcaps =
ru_clubupdate = 2006-09-12
ru_currentclub =
ru_province = Auckland
ru_provinceyears =1986-1997
ru_provincecaps =
ru_provincepoints =
ru_provinceupdate =2006-09-12
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam =
ru_sevensnationalcaps(points) =
ru_sevensupdate =
ru_coachclubs =
ru_coachyears =
ru_coachupdate =
other = yes
occupation =
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives = Robin Brooke
school = Mahurangi College
rugby = briam perrys "a" team

Zinzan Valentine Brooke (born Murray Zinzan Brooke on February 14, 1965; changed name by deed poll) is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer who played at Number 8.

He played 58 tests for New Zealand, and 42 non-international matches for the All Blacks, captained Auckland Blues to Super 12 championships in 1996 and 1997 and an influential figure in Auckland's dominance in the National Provincial Championship during the late '80's and 90's. He scored 17 tries in Test matches, then a world record for a forward. He also played for New Zealand Māori.

Brooke is one of the best Number 8s to have ever played for the All Blacks. He had the running and kicking skills of a backline player which made him extremely mobile and agile as a forward. He once kicked a 47-metre drop goal during a 1995 Rugby World Cup match, one of three he scored in Test matches. His brother Robin Brooke played lock for Auckland & New Zealand. He is also a relative of New Zealand cricket players Zin Harris and Chris Harris.Fact|date=October 2008

In 1997 he retired from international rugby union and moved to England to play for Harlequins and later coach them, but he was not very successful. During the 2002/03 season he played for Coventry in National Division One. He now plays amateur rugby union for Windsor Rugby Club in Berkshire, England.

It was widely reported that he signed a contract to play rugby league for Graham Lowe's Manly club in the early 1990s, but subsequently changed his mind and stayed with rugby union. In 1995 his biography 'Zinny: The Zinzan Brooke story', written with Alex Veysey, was published.

He suffered head trauma in May 2007 while falling out of a taxi in the Spanish town of Elche, though the circumstances are unclear. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6697779.stm|title=Legend Brooke has brain operation|date=2007-07-13|publisher=BBC SPORT] Since he is having trouble speaking it is likely he has suffered damage to the Broca's area of his brain.Fact|date=October 2008

Trivia

Zinzan Brooke also played Gaelic football - both before and after his rugby career. Initially he was introduced to the game by fellow All Black Bernie McCahill at Auckland Gaels Gaelic Football Club. While living in London after his career he also turned out for St. Brendan's of London.

References

External links

*All Blacks|id=88|name=Zinzan Brooke
* [http://www.windsorrugby.info Windsor Rugby Club]