Otere Black

Otere Black (born 4 May 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a first five-eighth for Manawatu in the Mitre 10 Cup[1][2][3] and the Blues in Super Rugby.[4]

Otere Black
Full nameOtere William Black
Date of birth (1995-05-04) 4 May 1995
Place of birthPalmerston North, New Zealand
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight86 kg (190 lb; 13 st 8 lb)
SchoolHato Paora College
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth
Current team Manawatu, Blues
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014– Manawatu 56 (444)
2015–2017 Hurricanes 22 (54)
2019– Blues 20 (141)
Correct as of 14 June 2020
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 New Zealand U20 5 (63)
2015–2019 Māori All Blacks 9 (48)
Correct as of 14 June 2020

Domestic career

Manawatu

Black attended Hato Paora College for four years before moving on to Tu Toa High School in Palmerston North where he graduated in 2013. He subsequently linked up with the local College Old Boys club. After scoring an impressive 223 points in sixteen games, he was promoted to the Manawatu Turbos ITM Cup side for 2014.[1] His debut campaign with the Turbos was successful for both him and his team. Manawatu finished their season top of the ITM Cup Championship division and were promoted to the Premiership for 2015 following a play-off victory over Hawke's Bay.[5]

Hurricanes

Black was part of the Hurricanes' wider training group in 2015, but got a chance to make his Super Rugby debut after a knee injury sidelined incumbent number ten Beauden Barrett.[6] He made four appearances for the Hurricanes, scoring 17 points, and impressing with his composure and general ability to run the game plan, particularly against the Blues at Eden Park.

With three other New Zealand Super Rugby clubs chasing his services for the 2016 Super Rugby season, Black decided to re-sign and continue developing his game under the Hurricanes coaching staff.[7]

Blues

It was announced towards the end of the 2017 Super Rugby season that Black would move up north, signing to play for the Blues. After missing the 2018 Super Rugby season through injury[8] Black made his debut for the franchise in the opening match of the 2019 Super Rugby season. He scored five points in a 22-24 loss to the Crusaders .[9]

International career

Māori All Blacks

Although the then 20-year-old Black had only played eleven matches for Manawatu, Colin Cooper, the Māori All Blacks coach, selected him for the 2015 tour to Fiji, playing against the Fiji national team, and against a specially made New Zealand Barbarians team.

References
  1. "Otere Black Player Profile". Manawatu Rugby. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  2. "Otere Black itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  3. "Otere Black ESPN Scrum Player Profile". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  4. "Otere Black". The Blues. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  5. "Manawatu vs Hawke's Bay 24 October 2014". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  6. "Hurricanes 2015 Squad Naming" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  7. "Otere Black re-signs with the Hurricanes for the next two seasons". Stuff. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  8. "Turbos and Blues first five-eighth Otere Black staring at long stint on sidelines". Stuff. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  9. "Blues vs Crusaders - Match Centre". Super Rugby. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
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