Kelly Brazier

Kelly Brazier
Brazier in 2016
Date of birth (1989-10-28) 28 October 1989
Place of birth Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight 70 kg (11 st 0 lb; 154 lb)
School Otago Girls' High School
Otago Polytechnic
Spouse Tahlia Tahau
Occupation(s) Professional rugby player
Rugby union career
Position(s) Utility back
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003–2010
2011–		 Alhambra Union
Clanswomen		 ()
Correct as of 6 January 2012
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2004–2010
2011–		 Otago Spirit
Canterbury		 25
5		 85
67
Correct as of 6 January 2012
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009– New Zealand 19 (117)
Correct as of 6 January 2012
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
Women's Rugby sevens
Olympic Games
2016 Rio de JaneiroTeam competition
Commonwealth Games
2018 Gold Coast Team competition

Kelly Brazier (born 28 October 1989) is a New Zealand rugby union player. She plays flyhalf, centre or fullback in New Zealand, Canterbury and Canadian club Edmonton Clansmen RFC.

Brazier was born in Dunedin to an English father and an Irish mother who came to New Zealand with their first child Tony. Her sport career started at five when her two-years-older brother took her to a rugby field, and was split between touch in summer and rugby during winter. She was in New Zealand U21 mixed touch team at 14 and in New Zealand secondary schoolgirls team at 15. She also began to play in Alhambra Union rugby in 2003 and Otago Spirit provincial selection in 2004.[1] She entered New Zealand rugby's record books on 2 May 2009, when she scored 64 points – ten tries and seven conversions – for her club in the Otago Metropolitan Women's Premier match against Kaikorai at the University Oval in Dunedin.[2]

Brazier made her international debut against England on 14 November 2009 at Pillar Data Arena, in Esher, when Black Ferns won 16–3.[3] In the second test match played at Twickenham in front of a record crowd of 12500 people Black Ferns was defeated 10–3.[4] She took part in the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup, playing a key role in the Black Ferns' success in the final against England and becoming the leading point scorer with 4 tries, 11 conversions and 2 penalties.[5][6] She scored her first try during the match against South Africa thanks to a fine pass by Anna Richards.[7]

After going to coach and play for Clan Rugby in Edmonton, Canada for four months, Brazier went back to New Zealand for the start of Women's NPC with Canterbury. In spite of a good debut with her new team – two tries in a 60–0 win over Hawke's Bay Tuis[8] – and some other victories against Manawatu Cyclones and her former team Otago Spirit, Canterbury failed to reach the final.[9]

On October 2011 she was called by New Zealand head coach Grant Hansen to play three tests against England, a tour which concluded with two losses and a draw for Black Ferns and only 5 points for her (a conversion and a penalty).

Brazier was among the nominees for the 2009 Steinlager Rugby Awards for NZRU Women's Player of the Year with Carla Hohepa and Victoria Heighway, who won.[10][11] Brazier was also named the Otago Institute of Sport and Adventure's top sportsperson in 2009 and 2010.[12] She was named in the squad for the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup.[13][14]

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Brazier was scored the winning try in the grand final against Australia, running 80 metres and securing gold for New Zealand

References

  1. ↑ Marion Mouat (24 August 2011). "Kelly Brazier, a remarkable rugby talent". Aoraki Polytechnic Newsline. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  2. ↑ Alistair McMurran (5 May 2009). "Dunedin teen bags NZ scoring record". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  3. ↑ "Black Ferns team named for first test against England". 13 November 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "England's women boost confidence with NZ win". 22 November 2009. Archived from the original on 11 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  5. ↑ "New Zealand crowned world champions". 5 September 2010. Archived from the original on 10 December 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  6. ↑ "Final statistics". 6 September 2010. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  7. ↑ "Pool A: Australia and New Zealand enjoy wins". 20 August 2010. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Dream start for Canty". The Timaru Herald. 1 August 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Women storm into provincial rugby final". The Dominion Post. 29 August 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  10. ↑ "Remaining nominees for 2009 Steinlager Rugby Awards". 4 December 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  11. ↑ "2009 Steinlager Rugby Awards winners announced". 18 December 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  12. ↑ "Brazier again wins institute award". Otago Daily Times. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  13. ↑ "Black Ferns squad for 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup named". All Blacks. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  14. ↑ "Black Ferns World Cup squad named". Radio New Zealand. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
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