Mike Harris (rugby union)

Michael "Mike" Harris (born 8 July 1988)[2] is a professional rugby union football player for Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan's Top League. He has also been capped ten times for Australia. Harris began his career in 2007 with North Harbour in New Zealand's ITM Cup before moving to Australia in 2011. He played for the Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby and then joined French club Lyon for two seasons from late 2016. He moved to Japan for the 2018–19 season.

Michael Harris
Date of birth (1988-07-08) 8 July 1988
Place of birthNorth Harbour, New Zealand
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight96 kg (212 lb)
SchoolWestlake Boys High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Inside Centre / Fly-half / Fullback
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016−2018
2018–		 Lyon
Toshiba Brave Lupus		 43
1		 (157)
(10)
Correct as of 2 September 2018
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007–2010
2014		 North Harbour 46 (255)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2014
2015−2016		 Reds
Rebels		 44
20		 (270)
(133)
Correct as of 21 July 2016
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007-2008
2012		 New Zealand U20
Australia		 1
10		 (0)
(55)
Correct as of 1 December 2013

His main positions are at flyhalf or second five-eighth.[3] He is also a reliable goal kicker. Mike was Head Boy at Westlake Boys High School in 2006.

Club career

After making his Queensland Reds debut in 2011, Harris was selected to fill the void of flyhalf after fellow Queensland Reds played Quade Cooper had succumbed to injury during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Harris immediately made an impact as he broke the Super Rugby record for most consecutive goals (penalties, conversions etc.) with 24. He also broke John Eales' Queensland and Australian record for most goals in a game with 9 (7 penalties, 2 conversions).[4] He became a viable kicking option for the Reds but suffered injury a few weeks later. In June 2012 he was selected to play his first test match against Scotland.[5] In May 2014 it was announced that Harris would be joining the Melbourne Rebels for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.[6]

On 16 March 2016, Harris travels to France to join with top club Lyon in the Top 14 on a two-year deal from the 2016-17 season.[7] On 4 April 2018, Harris leaves France for Japan to join Toshiba Brave Lupus, in the Top League on a two-year deal from the 2018-19 season.[8]

International career

Harris was qualified to represent the Wallabies through his Australian-born grandmother,[5] and was selected at inside centre for the test match on 5 June 2012 against Scotland.[5] He scored 6 points in this game, the only points for Australia in a 9-6 loss to Scotland. Two weeks later he was on the bench in the second test against Wales in Melbourne on 16 June 2012, coming on for an injured Berrick Barnes. He scored the winning goal for the match to secure a 25-23 win for the Wallabies.

After missing selection for the Wallabies at the 2015 World Cup, Harris was named in the 39-man squad for the 2016 international series against England.

Super Rugby statistics
As of 21 July 2016[9]
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2011 Reds86249835303410
2012 Reds14140103702234114900
2013 Reds84433903401800
2014 Reds141401050312916900
2015 Rebels15150113112026012300
2016 Rebels55020211101000
Total64586425786377240310

Notes
  1. "Mike Harris". rugby.com.au. Australian Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  2. "Mike Harris player profile". ESPN Scrum.com.
  3. Horne, Ben (1 August 2012). "Mike Harris wants to tackle All Blacks, SBW". Rugby Heaven. Fairax. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  4. "Is Mike Harris rugby's best kicker".
  5. "Deans adds Kiwis to Wallabies to play Scots". 3 June 2012.
  6. "Rabodirect Rebels sign Wallaby Mike Harris".
  7. "Harris joins French club Lyon". Sports24. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  8. "Former Wallaby Mike Harris signs with Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus". News.com.au. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  9. "Player Statistics". its rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
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