Inviato: 10 gen 2006, 8:26
Da Planet-Rugby.com
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<BR>After a career of 74 Tests, 21 as captain, Umaga has said that he will not be available to play for the All Blacks but will spend more time with his family (He and his wife have three children) and make his contribution to the Hurricanes in the Super 14 and Wellington in the NPC. Because he is contracted to the New Zealand RFU and so required to play for New Zealand if selected,. he required a special dispensation to retire.
<BR>
<BR>Last year, 2005, will go down as a great year in New Zealand rugby, and Umaga was the captain. Under him they beat the British & Irish Lions 3-0 in the series, won the Bledisloe Cup, won the Tri-Nations and took the All Blacks to their second-ever Grand Slam tour, beating England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales on their home fields.
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<BR>In his announcement made at a press conference in Wellington on Tuesday, Umaga said he had valued every moment with the All Blacks and every opportunity to play for them.
<BR>
<BR>He said: "It's been a tough decision but I think the time is right for me, for my family, and for the team. After the achievements last year and the development that is going on within the team, it is a good time to step down.
<BR>
<BR>"Being appointed captain of the All Blacks was a huge honour. A lot of the work we have been doing is around preparing the All Blacks for the future and I feel privileged to have played a part in that.
<BR>
<BR>Present at the conference were Graham Henry, the All Black coach, and his assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen and the New Zealand RFU's chairman Jock Hobbs and its CEO Chris Moller.
<BR>
<BR>Henry said: "Tana's legacy is immense - he has led the All Blacks with distinction and to great success, while making a major contribution to the development of All Blacks rugby and what it means to be an All Black.
<BR>
<BR>"Personally, I am sad to see him retire given his performances in 2005 but he has taken the decision to spend more time with family and I applaud him for that. It is fitting that his record will be remembered along with the very best All Blacks captains'."
<BR>
<BR>Smith said: "The best thing about this game is the people in it and the relationships you develop with them. Seeing Tana develop as a person is one of the abiding memories I'll have from my All Blacks involvement. Tana has always cared about others and carried great responsibility for his own performance and that of the team. He has recently grown into an even greater leader, one who can share the responsibility with others whilst retaining an iron will and resolve to win.
<BR>
<BR>"I think Tana's decision to retire from international rugby reflects this growth in him as a person and family man. Watching Tana perform the haka and play in the black jersey leaves you in no doubt as to what it means to be an All Black. The All Blacks will miss his influence and he can be immensely proud of what he's leaving behind."
<BR>
<BR>Hobbs said: "Tana has represented both the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby with dignity and with a strong sense of the team's responsibility to its fans and partners, and he has been an inspiration to many people both on and off the field, as demonstrated by his winning of the Pierre de Coubertin award for Fair Play and his commitment to and work in the community.
<BR>
<BR>"His work in areas away from the rugby field on behalf of the All Blacks, New Zealand's professional rugby players and on behalf of the NZRU, including his key role in presenting New Zealand's bid for Rugby World Cup 2011, is further testament to his commitment and professionalism."
<BR>
<BR>Umaga received the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy for tending to Colin Charvis when the Welshman was injured during a Test in Hamilton in 2004.
<BR>
<BR>New Zealand-born of Samoan extraction, Umaga, who is 32, made his All Black debut against Fiji in 1997 as a wing. He played for New Zealand at the World Cups of 1999 and 2003, after switching to centre in 2000, and played his last Test against Scotland on 26 November 2005. Graham Henry appointed him captain in 2004 in succession to Reuben Thorne.
<BR>
<BR>Umaga is contracted to the NZRU till 2007 but rumours have linked him to a move to Europe with Harlequins most frequently mentioned as a destination.
<BR>
<BR>Tana Jonathan Falefasa Umaga was born in Lower Huitt, near Wellington, on 27 May 1973. In 1993 he switched from rugby league to rugby union, persuaded to do so by his mother Tauesa and his older brotehr Mike who played for Samoa. At rugby league Tana had played for the Junior Kiwis (Under-19) two years in a row. Making the change, he played for Petone RFC and then went with the New Zealand Colts on a tour to Australia - along with Jonah Lomu. He first played for Wellington in the NPC in 1994. When Super 12 started he played for the Hurricanes, winning his 100th cap for them in 2005. When Lomu suffered his kidney complaint in 1997, Umaga came onto the All Black wing in his place. In 2000 he was voted New Zealand's Player of the Year.
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>After a career of 74 Tests, 21 as captain, Umaga has said that he will not be available to play for the All Blacks but will spend more time with his family (He and his wife have three children) and make his contribution to the Hurricanes in the Super 14 and Wellington in the NPC. Because he is contracted to the New Zealand RFU and so required to play for New Zealand if selected,. he required a special dispensation to retire.
<BR>
<BR>Last year, 2005, will go down as a great year in New Zealand rugby, and Umaga was the captain. Under him they beat the British & Irish Lions 3-0 in the series, won the Bledisloe Cup, won the Tri-Nations and took the All Blacks to their second-ever Grand Slam tour, beating England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales on their home fields.
<BR>
<BR>In his announcement made at a press conference in Wellington on Tuesday, Umaga said he had valued every moment with the All Blacks and every opportunity to play for them.
<BR>
<BR>He said: "It's been a tough decision but I think the time is right for me, for my family, and for the team. After the achievements last year and the development that is going on within the team, it is a good time to step down.
<BR>
<BR>"Being appointed captain of the All Blacks was a huge honour. A lot of the work we have been doing is around preparing the All Blacks for the future and I feel privileged to have played a part in that.
<BR>
<BR>Present at the conference were Graham Henry, the All Black coach, and his assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen and the New Zealand RFU's chairman Jock Hobbs and its CEO Chris Moller.
<BR>
<BR>Henry said: "Tana's legacy is immense - he has led the All Blacks with distinction and to great success, while making a major contribution to the development of All Blacks rugby and what it means to be an All Black.
<BR>
<BR>"Personally, I am sad to see him retire given his performances in 2005 but he has taken the decision to spend more time with family and I applaud him for that. It is fitting that his record will be remembered along with the very best All Blacks captains'."
<BR>
<BR>Smith said: "The best thing about this game is the people in it and the relationships you develop with them. Seeing Tana develop as a person is one of the abiding memories I'll have from my All Blacks involvement. Tana has always cared about others and carried great responsibility for his own performance and that of the team. He has recently grown into an even greater leader, one who can share the responsibility with others whilst retaining an iron will and resolve to win.
<BR>
<BR>"I think Tana's decision to retire from international rugby reflects this growth in him as a person and family man. Watching Tana perform the haka and play in the black jersey leaves you in no doubt as to what it means to be an All Black. The All Blacks will miss his influence and he can be immensely proud of what he's leaving behind."
<BR>
<BR>Hobbs said: "Tana has represented both the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby with dignity and with a strong sense of the team's responsibility to its fans and partners, and he has been an inspiration to many people both on and off the field, as demonstrated by his winning of the Pierre de Coubertin award for Fair Play and his commitment to and work in the community.
<BR>
<BR>"His work in areas away from the rugby field on behalf of the All Blacks, New Zealand's professional rugby players and on behalf of the NZRU, including his key role in presenting New Zealand's bid for Rugby World Cup 2011, is further testament to his commitment and professionalism."
<BR>
<BR>Umaga received the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy for tending to Colin Charvis when the Welshman was injured during a Test in Hamilton in 2004.
<BR>
<BR>New Zealand-born of Samoan extraction, Umaga, who is 32, made his All Black debut against Fiji in 1997 as a wing. He played for New Zealand at the World Cups of 1999 and 2003, after switching to centre in 2000, and played his last Test against Scotland on 26 November 2005. Graham Henry appointed him captain in 2004 in succession to Reuben Thorne.
<BR>
<BR>Umaga is contracted to the NZRU till 2007 but rumours have linked him to a move to Europe with Harlequins most frequently mentioned as a destination.
<BR>
<BR>Tana Jonathan Falefasa Umaga was born in Lower Huitt, near Wellington, on 27 May 1973. In 1993 he switched from rugby league to rugby union, persuaded to do so by his mother Tauesa and his older brotehr Mike who played for Samoa. At rugby league Tana had played for the Junior Kiwis (Under-19) two years in a row. Making the change, he played for Petone RFC and then went with the New Zealand Colts on a tour to Australia - along with Jonah Lomu. He first played for Wellington in the NPC in 1994. When Super 12 started he played for the Hurricanes, winning his 100th cap for them in 2005. When Lomu suffered his kidney complaint in 1997, Umaga came onto the All Black wing in his place. In 2000 he was voted New Zealand's Player of the Year.
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![:-]](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif "Mr. Green"){kind=icon}
