Zinzan Brooke
| Full name | Murray Zinzan Brooke | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 14 February 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Waiuku, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 102 kg (16 st 1 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Mahurangi College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Robin Brooke (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position(s) | Number 8 or flanker | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand No. | 883 | ||
| Senior career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1997–2001 | Harlequins | () | |
| Provincial / State sides | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1986–97 | Auckland | ||
| Super Rugby | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1996–97 | Auckland Blues | () | |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1987–97 | New Zealand | 58 | (89) |
Zinzan Valentine Brooke MNZM (born Murray Zinzan Brooke on 14 February 1965; his name was changed by deed poll) is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer who played at number eight. He has two other brothers who also played rugby at representative level: Marty, who played for Auckland and Southland; and Robin, who played lock for Auckland and New Zealand. He is regarded as one of the best rugby players of all time.
Brooke played 58 tests for New Zealand, and 42 non-international matches for the All Blacks, captained Auckland Blues to Super 12 championships in 1996 and 1997 and was an influential figure in Auckland's dominance in the National Provincial Championship during the late 1980s and 1990s. He scored 17 tries in Test matches, then a world record for a forward. He also played for New Zealand Māori.
Brooke was a founding player of the Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok), playing in the inaugural side in 1994 against Taradale RFC. In 1995 he published his autobiography Zinny: The Zinzan Brooke story, written with Alex Veysey.
Brooke is considered one of the best number eights to have ever played for the All Blacks. He had the running and kicking skills of a backline player which made him extremely mobile and agile as a forward. He once kicked a 48-metre drop goal during a 1995 Rugby World Cup match, one of three he scored in Test matches.
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