Ruben Wiki
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Ruben Wiki (born January 25, 1973 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby league player for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition. He is contracted until the end of the 2008 season. He also previously played for the Canberra Raiders for over 10 years playing alongside such greats ad Mal Meninga, Bradley Clyde and Ricky Stuart and is famous for being the player to represent his country the most times in international rugby league.
Wiki has also represented New Zealand on more than fifty occasions between 1994 and 2006. Wiki was the captain of the Kiwis 18 times until his recent retirement. Initially a centre, Wiki now plays predominantly at Prop Forward though he can also play in the second row.
Wiki is famous for drinking a bowl of the Pacific island drink kava after each match, which he credits for his longevity in the game.
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[edit] From inspirational player to legendary captain
Wiki's physical approach to the game made him inspirational as a centre.
Alongside future All black captain Tana Umaga, Wiki wreaked havoc for the Junior Kiwis.
In 1994, he teamed up with Kangaroo legend, Mal Meninga, to score a premiership win for the Canberra Raiders.
Wiki will probably be remembered most as the captain of the kiwi team that scored a historic win over the Kangaroos in 2005. This was the first series win since 1978 and the first time in 20 years that New Zealand have kept Australia scoreless in a test match.
During that same period, Tana Umaga was also captaining his team, the All Blacks to an undefeated tour of the England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
[edit] Retirement from international rugby league
After playing his 55th test match in the 2006 Tri Nations final Ruben Wiki announced his retirement from the international game along with other New Zealand veterans Nigel Vagana and Stacey Jones. New Zealand lost the final in golden point extra time 12-16 after the scores were locked at 12-all after 80 minutes.
A new Kiwis captain has not yet been announced, although David Kidwell and Sonny Bill Williams are considered the favourites for the job.
[edit] Career highlights
- 55 Test caps for Kiwis 1994-2006 before retiring from representative football
- 18 Tests as Kiwi captain 2003-2006
- 2006 - Wiki sets a new record for the most first grade NRL games by a New Zealander, surpassing Stephen Kearney's mark of 264 games.
- 2005 - Was awarded man of the match in his 50th test for the Kiwis In the same match he also became the first player ever to receive 50 test caps for their country. New Zealand won this historic test against Australia 24-0 and consequently beat Australia for the first time in a series since 1953.
- 1994 - Wiki wins a premiership with the Canberra Raiders club.
- Junior Club: Otahuhu Leopards
- First Grade Debut: Round 11, Canberra v South Sydney at Canberra Stadium, June 13, 1993
- Career Stats: By the end of the 2006 NRL season, Wiki had played 266 first-grade career games, scoring 69 tries
[edit] External links
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