Aaron Cruden
New Zealand
player portrait
Full name Aaron Wiremu Cruden
Born January 8, 1989, Palmerston North
Current age 35 years 71 days
Major teams Chiefs, Hurricanes, Manawatu, Montpellier, New Zealand
Position Fly-half
Height 5 ft 9 in
Weight 183 lb

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2010-2017 50 26 24 322 5 63 56 1 44 3 3 91
Bledisloe Cup 2010-2016 11 5 6 81 2 13 15 0 9 0 2 90.9
IRB Rugby World Cup 2011-2011 3 2 1 5 0 1 0 1 3 0 0 100
The Rugby Championship 2010-2016 17 9 8 105 1 17 22 0 16 0 1 97.05

Career statistics
Test debut New Zealand v Ireland at New Plymouth, Jun 12, 2010 match details
Last Test New Zealand v British and Irish Lions at Auckland, Jul 8, 2017 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list
Profile

Aaron Cruden has emerged as a real challenger to Dan Carter for the All Blacks' fly-half spot and has cemented his status as one of the world's best young No.10s.

Having survived a bout of testicular cancer as a teenager, Cruden's rise to the All Blacks was meteoric. He led the 'Baby Blacks', New Zealand's Under-20 side, to victory at the Junior World Championship in 2009 and was later named IRB Junior Player of the Year. He played a season of NPC rugby with Manawatu later that year with his name already mentioned in the same breath as the All Black No.10 jersey.

While his Test shot did not materialise that season he showed strong form in his first Super Rugby season for the Hurricanes, and won an international call-up for June Tests against Ireland and Wales. With the Chiefs' Stephen Donald and Mike Delany out with injuries he was immediately elevated to the status of understudy to Dan Carter, playing all three Tests and scoring his first try against Wales in Hamilton. He started his first Test away to Australia later in 2010 following Carter's decision to undergo ankle surgery.

The fly-half signed for the Chiefs during the summer of 2011 and was included in Graham Henry's training squad for the Tri-Nations. However he lost out to Highlanders playmaker Colin Slade as Carter's understudy. Cruden was similarly left out of New Zealand's original 30-man World Cup squad but when the Kiwi's biggest fear manifested and Carter was ruled out of the tournament with a groin injury, he was called up as an injury replacement.

Cruden was quickly pressed into action as replaced Slade in the quarter-final against Argentina. Cruden impressed against the Pumas and then out-played Australia playmaker Quade Cooper in the semi final. Although his participating in the final was cut short by a knee injury, the All Blacks went on to defeat France to claim the Rugby World Cup for the second time.

In 2012, while Carter continued to be first choice for the All Blacks, Cruden was perfuming admirably for the Chiefs on the Super Rugby scene. He helped guide them to their maiden title in 2012 and continued in the same vein in 2013 when he scored a key try in their semi-final win over the Crusaders.

Latest Articles
Chiefs fly-half Aaron Cruden ready to make his return (Feb 17, 2016) Aaron Cruden's knee surgery hailed a success (May 8, 2015) Cruden remains hopeful of World Cup return (Apr 20, 2015) Aaron Cruden sidelined with ACL injury (Apr 20, 2015) Chiefs outclass Crusaders in Christchurch (Apr 17, 2015) Aaron Cruden news and articles (179) »
Latest Photos
Feb 20, 2016
Chiefs Aaron Cruden in action during the Super Rugby pre-season match between the Blues and the Chiefs
Chiefs Aaron Cruden in action during the Super Rugby pre-season match between the Blues and the Chiefs
©  Getty Images
Apr 17, 2015
The Chiefs' Sonny Bill Williams and Aaron Cruden sit on the sidelines
The Chiefs' Sonny Bill Williams and Aaron Cruden sit on the sidelines
©  Getty Images
Feb 28, 2015
Aaron Cruden of the Chiefs leaps over the tackle of Mitchell Drummond of the Crusaders
Aaron Cruden of the Chiefs leaps over the tackle of Mitchell Drummond of the Crusaders
©  Getty Images
Nov 8, 2014
Aaron Cruden is tackled by Kyle Eastmond
Aaron Cruden is tackled by Kyle Eastmond
©  Getty Images
Aaron Cruden rugby photos (75) »

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