John Akurangi

John Francis Akurangi (born 24 April 1970) is a New Zealand former professional rugby union player.[1]

John Akurangi
Full nameJohn Francis Akurangi
Date of birth (1970-04-24) 24 April 1970
Place of birthHastings, New Zealand
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight246 lb (112 kg)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker / Prop
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1991–93 Stade Français ()
1997–98 SU Agen ()
1999–00 Leicester Tigers ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1994–97 Auckland 27 (45)
1998–01 Counties Manukau 39 (25)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
1996 Blues 0 (0)
1997 Crusaders 2 (0)
1999 Chiefs 8 (5)

Akurangi was born in Hastings and is an old boy of St Peter's College, Auckland.[2]

A NZ Maori representative front-rower, Akurangi was in the Auckland Blues squad the won the inaugural Super 12 competition in 1996, before stints with the Crusaders and Chiefs.[3] He played professional rugby overseas at Stade Français and SU Agen during the 1990s, then had a season with the Leicester Tigers in 1999–00.[4]

Akurangi received a fine in 2002 for cultivating and possessing cannabis, a conviction that cost him a $1 million contract to coach a Japanese club.[5] He then lived in Sydney for several years and during this period had an acting cameo as a bouncer on Underbelly: The Golden Mile.[6] After moving to Italy in 2010 to coach rugby, Akurangi suffered a heart attack and had a stent inserted, which caused further issues five years later when it tore an aorta near his heart. He underwent seven hour surgery in Milan and has subsequently recovered.[7]

References
  1. "John Francis Akurangi". www.rugbyhistory.co.nz.
  2. "Blog Archives". College Sport Media. 27 September 2018.
  3. "Rugby: The first Super champions - where are they now?". NZ Herald. 13 February 2016.
  4. "Former Super Rugby hooker in hospital". NZ Herald. 7 December 2015.
  5. "Former Māori All Black rebuilds career in Italy". Newshub. 4 June 2017.
  6. "Akurangi's long journey back". Stuff.co.nz. 7 March 2010.
  7. "Former Crusaders hooker John Akurangi 'doing well' after heart surgery in Italy". Stuff.co.nz. 8 December 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.