Zac Guildford

Zac Guildford

Guildford in 2011
Full name	Zachary Robert Guildford
Date of birth	(1989-02-08) 8 February 1989
Place of birth	Greytown, Wairarapa, New Zealand
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	96 kg (15 st 2 lb)
School	Napier Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Wing
New Zealand No.	1097
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2014–15	Clermont	21	(15)
correct as of 25 April 2015.
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2007–13, 2015 2016 –	Hawke's Bay Wairarapa Bush	74 9	(200) (24)
correct as of 30 October 2016.
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2008–09 2010–14 2016	Hurricanes Crusaders Waratahs	18 61 7	(35) (110) (5)
correct as of 31 May 2016.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2009–12 2013	New Zealand Māori All Blacks	11 2	(30) (5)
correct as of 9 November 2013.
Sevens national teams
Years	Club / team		Comps
	New Zealand
Medal record Representing  New Zealand Men's Rugby sevens Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Rugby sevens

Zachary Robert Guildford (born 8 February 1989) is a New Zealand rugby union player of Maori descent who most recently played in Super Rugby for the New South Wales Waratahs. He initially signed with the Tasman Rugby Union for the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup season,^[1] but the Union and Guildford agreed to part ways before the start of the season.^[2] Instead, he plays for Wairarapa Bush in the Heartland Championship.^[3]

He previously played in Super Rugby for the Hurricanes and the Crusaders, in the Top 14 competition for French side Clermont Auvergne and in the New Zealand domestic ITM Cup for Hawke's Bay. He was selected for the All Blacks end of year tour in 2009; the 2010 and 2012 Steinlager Series; and the 2011 Tri Nations Series. Guildford played for the All Blacks during the victorious 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Early life

Zac Guildford was born on 8 February 1989 in Greytown, New Zealand. He is the son of Deborah and Robert Guildford. He has one younger brother, Victor. When Zac was 10 years old, his family moved to Napier, Hawke's Bay, where he went through the rugby academy system. He attended Napier Boys' High School. Zac's inclusion in the New Zealand All Blacks came after a remarkable national representative career with New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand Under 19 and two seasons with the New Zealand Under 20.

International

Guildford first represented New Zealand at the U19 World Cup in 2007. He then represented New Zealand at the JWC in 2008. In his final season at International age grade level the following year, Guildford again played for New Zealand, in that year's JWC hosted in Japan. Tragically, his father Robert died suddenly shortly after the conclusion of the Final against England.^[4]

Guildford was first selected for the All Blacks for the end of year tour in 2009 and was the youngest player in the squad. He made his All Blacks debut against Wales on 7 November 2009 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. In 2010 he was selected for the Steinlager Series. Guildford was selected for the All Blacks tri-nations squad the following year and was later selected in the 30-man All Blacks 2011 Rugby World Cup squad, though he did not play until New Zealand's final pool match of the tournament, where he contributed four tries to the All Blacks' 79-15 victory over Canada.^[5] Guildford was then recalled into the All Blacks for the three test Ireland series where he played two more tests on the right wing.

Super Rugby

After a strong season with Hawke's Bay in the Air New Zealand Cup, Guildford was chosen for the Hurricanes 2008 season. Guildford managed to play six matches in the 2008 Super 14 season (even though he broke his arm pre-season), starting all of these matches except his first match against the Stormers. Guildford also managed to score three tries in his first season. In 2009 he played in 10 matches, most of them as a starter, scoring 4 tries. In 2009 he was secured by the Crusaders for the 2010 season. Guildford signed for the NSW Waratahs for the 2016 super rugby season.^[6]

Hawke's Bay

Guildford was one of the youngest players to play in the Air New Zealand Cup. He made his debut for Hawke's Bay in 2007 when he was only 18. Being the youngest player in the squad didn't stop him though, as he managed to play in twelve of the provinces matches in a year that they made the semi-finals. Guildford also managed to run in five tries for the season, two coming in the 30–26 win over Waikato. Guildford went on to be one of the leading try scorers in 2009 with 13 tries, most of them through his trade mark kick and chase.

Clermont Auvergne

In January 2014, it was announced that he signed a contract for two years (with the option of a third) with French Top 14 side Clermont Auvergne.^[7] Initially, he was supposed to join them at the conclusion of the 2014 Super Rugby season, but in May 2014, he was given an early release from his contract by the Crusaders.^[8]

Sevens

Guildford was included in the New Zealand sevens squad that competed in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. They won the Gold Medal against Australia.

Controversy surrounding alcoholism

On 11 November 2011, Guildford was cited in Rarotonga,^[9] where he was accused of drunken naked assaults during an alcohol-fuelled series of incidents.^[10][11] He has since apologised for his actions and admitted to alcoholism.

References

External links

• Zac Guildford at AllBlacks.com
• ESPN Profile
• Hurricanes profile
• Zac Guildford interview on The Rock radio station