Ben Blair

FULL NAME: Ben Austin Blair
BORN: 26 March 1979 at Westport
PHYSICAL: 1.74m, 83kg 
EYES: Green
POSITION: Fullback
NPC TEAM: Canterbury
SUPER 12 TEAM: Canterbury Crusaders

ALL BLACKS
Debut: 13 November 2001 v Ireland A at Belfast
Games: 6
Tests: 4
Points: 62 (4t, 9c, 8p)

NOTES
* Bagged 37 points on debut for the All Blacks (including three tries) against Ireland A at Ravenhill in Belfast last year.
* Scored an NPC first division record of 37 points for Canterbury against Counties Manukau in just his fourth NPC game.
* Had two years in the New Zealand Under-21s, scoring 36 points in the team's 71-5 demolition of South Africa in the 2000 International Under-21 tournament final.
* His first senior call-up for his country was on the New Zealand A tour of Europe in 2000 where he posted 27 points against Romania at Bucharest.
* Both his father (1969-80) and grand father (1941-47) played rep rugby for Buller.
* Is a keen student of rugby stats and trivia.
* Broke Wellington hearts when he scored the Ranfurly Shield saving try in a classic challenge in Christchurch last year. Blair's try tied the game and he rubbed it in by landing the conversion from touch to win it for his side.

REPRESENTED
New Zealand Under 16 in 1995
New Zealand Under 19 in 1998
New Zealand Colts in 1999-2000

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
My earliest rugby memory is: Sloshing through the mud at the Ngakawau Domain in Westport.
The position I played at Secondary School was:
Fullback/First five-eighths.
My favourite rugby star back then was: Wayne Shelford.
The player I respect most is: Todd Blackadder.
The best thing about professional rugby is: Being paid to play a game I would happily play for free.
My best moment in rugby was: Making the All Blacks.

FAVOURITES
Food: Roast lamb
Book/Magazine: Gangsters
Movie: Terminator 2
Actor: Robert De Niro
Country to visit: Ireland
Ground: Jade Stadium
The best advice my mother ever gave me was: Don't eat so fast.
I hate it when: There's no food in our flat.
I'd hate to be without: humour.
The worst job I ever had was: Digging a drainage pit.
If I was Prime minister I would: Lower taxes.
The sportsperson I most admire is: Buller cricket captain Bart Scanlon.
For relaxation I like to: Play cricket and golf.
My ambition in life is: To be comfortable and happy. 

Bio from www.nzrugby.com 

Want to contact Ben? A message can be left at www.crfu.co.nz