John Hardie (rugby union)

John Hardie (born 27 July 1988) is a New Zealand born Scottish international rugby union player who plays for Newcastle Falcons. Hardie predominantly plays as an open side flanker, though he is also comfortable on the blindside. Having previously played for the Southland Stags in the Mitre 10 Cup and the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition.

John Hardie

Birth name	John Hardie
Date of birth	27 July 1988
Place of birth	Lumsden, New Zealand
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	103 kg (16 st 3 lb; 227 lb)
School	Southland Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2015–2018 2018– Edinburgh Newcastle Falcons 31 14 (25) (0) Correct as of 19 May 2019 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 2007–2014 Southland 65 (65) Correct as of 19 October 2014 Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 2010–2015 Highlanders 53 (20) Correct as of 6 September 2015 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2015– Scotland 16 (15) Correct as of 24 June 2017

Playing career

Provincial Rugby

As a student of Southland Boys High School he was in the first XV for three years from 2004 to 2006 earning New Zealand Secondary Schools selection in his final year. The following year he was a member of the New Zealand Under 19 team which won the 2007 IRB World Championships in Ireland.

He made his Southland debut in 2007 against Otago, and emerged as a full-time starter during the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup, appearing in every match and scoring three tries. He continued to be a key member of the squad as the Stags defended the Ranfurly Shield for the greater part of the 2010 ITM Cup season. Another outstanding season with the Stags in 2011, in which they regained the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury, saw him named Stags player of the year and also Southland Supporters Club player of the year for the second year. In 2013, Hardie again won the Stags player of the year and also the players player title. In 2014, he again won player of the year title.

Super Rugby

Based on his strong performance in the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup, Hardie was included in the Highlanders squad for the 2010 Super 14 season. Serving mainly as backup to starting flankers Adam Thomson and Alando Soakai, he made 11 appearances over the course of the 13 game season, including three starts.[1]

In 2012, with the departure of Soakai to Japan, Hardie emerged as the starting openside flanker, but was sidelined with a serious toe injury.[1]

While the Highlanders had a poor 2013, Hardie was one of the teams outstanding performers, leading the team in tackles completed, pilfers and runs made.

International career

Hardie made a highly successful international debut for Scotland on 22 August 2015, in a World Cup warm-up game against Italy in Turin. Hardie qualifies for Scotland through his grandmother who was from Low Valleyfield, Culross in Fife. Hardie had never visited Scotland prior to arriving in the UK in build up to the World Cup.[2]

He scored his first international try in the match against Japan at the 2015 World Cup.[3]

Following the World Cup he joined Edinburgh Rugby for the Pro14 2015/2016 Season.[4]

After being released by Edinburgh in 2018, Hardie had a trial with French Top14 club Clermont.[5]

Personal life

In January 2017, it was reported that Hardie had chased down and caught a shoplifter at Edinburgh's Ocean Terminal shopping centre.[6]

In October 2017, it was reported that Hardie had been suspended by Edinburgh Rugby for alleged cocaine use.[7] As result in November 2017, he was suspended for three months by Scottish Rugby for "Gross Misconduct".[8]

References

1. Burdon, Nathan (22 December 2012). "Hardie ready for injury-free Highlanders season". Rugby Heaven. Fairfax. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
2. Ingle, Sean (9 October 2015). "Scotland's John Hardie: It was a scary decision but it's been awesome". Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
3. English, Tom. "John Hardie overcoming doubters ahead of Samoa v Scotland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
4. "Scotland flanker John Hardie joins Edinburgh after impressive World Cup". theguardian. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
5. "John Hardie looks for new club as Clermont trial ends". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
6. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/88830160/kiwirasied-scottish-rugby-star-john-hardie-nabs-alleged-shoplifter
7. "John Hardie: Scotland flanker suspended from duty for alleged cocaine use". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
8. "John Hardie: Scotland flanker suspended for three months over alleged cocaine use". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 November 2017.