Christian Cullen

Christian Cullen , (born February 12th 1976 with Paraparaumu (New Zealand) is old player of Rugby with XV New Zealand which played 60 times (including 58 tests matches), like back or three quarter for the All-Blacks of 1996 with 2002. It measures 1,80 m and weighs 85 kg.

Its athletic qualities, its direction of the remarkable play, its speed, as its offensive spirit often leading it to revivals made of him an unforeseeable player, fears of all its adversaries and a formidable marker of test. Better current marker of tests of the Tri-nations with 16, he is still the best marker of New Zealand tests with 52 (including 46 in test matches) and the back All-Blacks more wrapped. It is without any doubt, with Serge Blanco, the best back of all time.

Biography

It belonged to the New Zealand team of less than 19 years in 1994 then played for the province of Manawatu-Wanganui the following year.

Its brilliant performances in the Super 12 with the Wellington Hurricanes and with the Rugby to seven with the tournament of HongKong (18 tests in 1996) led to her selection in 1996 like All-Black against the team of Samoa.

It will be a long time impossible to circumvent, thus playing its first 51 tests consecutive matches in manner, which only the Sean Fitzpatrick, Joe Roff, Willie-John McBride and Gareth Edwards also carried out.

It had then many selections, competition with Jonah Lomu, Tana Umaga and Jeff Wilson resulting in making it play sometimes in the center or winger, in particular at the time of the World cup of Rugby in 1999 because the trainer of the time John Hart made it play winger, preferring to him Jeff Wilson at the station of back.

He rejoua back in 2000 then was stopped a long time because of a wound to the knee. He had his last selection in 2002 against the team of France.

Cullen marked 46 tests into 58 test matches with Blacks, and more than 150 tests with the teams of provinces. He also played with the Maoris of New Zealand.

In 2003, it joined the province of the Munster where it played thirty two matches and was wounded one year. Following this wound one needs of them little which it does not join the Rugby Toulon-native Club at the summer 2006 (a special reception for its arrival was already organized on the Roads), negotiations with Mourad Boudjellal failing only because of a higher bid of last minute of Munster. The R.C.T. thus does not add it to its list of recruits already made up of Tana Umaga, Jean-Jacques Crenca or daN Luger.

Club

until in 2003: (Super 12)
since 2003: (Celtic League) Ireland

Prize list

In club

85 matches Super 12 with Hurricanes
Better marker of test of the Super 12: 16
303 points marked into Super 12

In national team

Number of test matches with Blacks: 58 (46 tests)
Other matches with Blacks: 2
Full number of matches with Blacks: 60 (52 tests)
First cape: June 7th, 1996
Last cape: November 16th, 2002
Matches with Blacks per year: 7 in 1996, 13 in 1997, 7 in 1998, 13 in 1999, 10 in 2000, 1 in 2001, 6 in 2002
Better marker of test of the AlBlacks: 46

External bonds

Card allblack.com
Statistical Statistical scrum.com
itsrugby.fr

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