Position: First five-eighth Born: 8/1/89 Physical: 1.78m, 80kg (5'8", 176lb) Test Debut: v Ireland at New Plymouth, 12 June 2010 Aaron Cruden has grown into a leadership role at all levels a ...Show More
Position: First five-eighth Born: 8/1/89 Physical: 1.78m, 80kg (5'8", 176lb) Test Debut: v Ireland at New Plymouth, 12 June 2010 Aaron Cruden has grown into a leadership role at all levels and has shown himself to be an exciting backline general and tactician. He features on the All Blacks all-time Test points scoring list, passing the 300-points mark with a great conversion against Argentina in Hamilton in 2016. Cruden returned to the All Blacks in the Steinlager Series against Wales in June 2016 - his first appearance in the black jersey since playing England at Twickenham in 2014. Recovery from injuries - including knee reconstruction surgery - kept him off the field for large periods in 2015 but he was in stellar form for the Chiefs in 2016 and 2017. Cruden was an instrumental part of the Chiefs' two title-winning Investec Super Rugby campaigns in 2012 and 2013. He was a former captain of the Junior World Championship-winning New Zealand Under 20 side in 2009, Cruden received the then-IRB Junior Player of the Year Award in 2009. In 2008, the then teenage Cruden successfully fought testicular cancer. Hide
