Caleb Clarke (rugby union)

Caleb Daniel Clarke (born 29 March 1999) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the Blues in the Super Rugby competition.[2] His position of choice is wing. Clarke made his international debut for New Zealand in 2020 and has since played 12 tests.

Caleb Clarke
Full nameCaleb Daniel Clarke
Date of birth (1999-03-29) 29 March 1999
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height189 cm (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Weight109 kg (240 lb; 17 st 2 lb)[1]
Notable relative(s)Eroni Clarke (father)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Current team Auckland, Blues
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017– Auckland 22 (40)
2018– Blues 49 (110)
Correct as of 16 September 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2018 New Zealand U20 11 (40)
2020– New Zealand 19 (30)
Correct as of 16 September 2023
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2018–2020 New Zealand 5
Correct as of 29 October 2022

Early life

Clarke attended Mount Albert Grammar School and was first selected for the school's First XV aged 14, where he played until 2016.[3]

Playing career

Early career

Clarke was selected for the All Blacks Sevens in 2018,[4][5] following his first season for Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Good performances for Auckland also led to Clarke's selection for the New Zealand U20's, for 2017 and 2018.

In 2019, his second season of Super Rugby, Clarke also became a regular starter for the Blues, under new Head Coach, Leon MacDonald.

2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Clarke, as well as his teammates from the New Zealand Rugby Sevens team, were released to play for their provinces and Super Rugby clubs. Clarke was in career-best form following New Zealand's national lockdown, leading to his selection for the All Blacks squad for the 2020 Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations Series.[6][7]

He made his debut for New Zealand in their 16–16 draw with the Wallabies at Wellington's Sky Stadium.[8] After a season-ending injury to George Bridge, Clarke started in four tests that year, on the left wing. Clarke scored his first try for the All Blacks on 14 November, in a historic first-ever loss to Argentina.

List of international test tries[9]
Try Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1 14 November 2020 Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, Australia Argentina 25-15 2020 Rugby Championship
2 27 August 2022 Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Argentina 18-25 2022 Rugby Championship
3 3 September 2022 FMG Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand Argentina 53-3 2022 Rugby Championship
4 29 October 2022 Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan Japan 38-31 2022 end-of-year internationals
5 29 July 2023 Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia Australia 38-7 2023 Rugby Championship

Personal life

Clarke is a first-generation New Zealander and has Samoan ancestry through his father. His father, Eroni Clarke,[1] who is also a former All Black, played international rugby as a centre, from 1992 to 1998.

References
  1. "Caleb Clarke". Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  2. "Caleb Clarke". www.theblues.co.nz. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  3. "Teenage son of a gun Caleb Clarke forging his own identity as a rugby player". Stuff. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  4. "New and old faces named in first All Blacks Sevens squad of 2018". allblacks.com. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  5. Hepburn, Graham (23 January 2018). "Caleb Clarke set for All Blacks Sevens debut". Mount Albert Grammar School. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  6. "Live updates: First All Blacks squad naming of 2020". NZ Herald. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  7. "All Blacks travelling squad for Australia named". allblacks.com. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  8. "All Blacks and Wallabies share spoils in Bledisloe Cup opener". allblacks.com. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  9. "Season By Season Stats for Caleb CLARKE Rugby Stats By Season | Rugby Database". www.rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
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