Andre Taylor
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| Full name | Andre Steven Taylor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 11 January 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Palmerston North, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Palmerston North Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Andre Taylor (born 11 January 1988) is a New Zealand
Māori international side, the Māori All Blacks. Also a former New Zealand under-20 rep, Taylor endeared himself to Hurricanes' fans with a superb Super Rugby season in 2012. Starting at fullback, he became a regular try-scoring threat, drawing comparisons with the great Christian Cullen. At provincial level he began his career with Manawatu, his home province before making the switch to Taranaki
in early 2010.
Early life
Born in Palmerston North, Taylor originally came out of the town of Ashhurst, just out of Palmerston North and attended the local school. He possibly made his way into Palmerston North as he grew older.
Domestic career
Taylor came to the attention of rugby selectors at the age of 18, after he was selected in the
Air New Zealand Cup season in which he proved a constant threat for opposition defences. Taylor capped off an excellent season by scoring 27 points in the Turbos’ final game of the 2009 season against North Harbour. He earned five caps for the Hurricanes in his first season, making his starting debut on the wing against the Sharks
.
Taylor returned for another full season with the Hurricanes in 2011, and then helped his second province Taranaki to third place in the
ITM Cup and reaching the Ranfurly Shield. At home at either wing or fullback, he chimed in with another big points scoring haul of 19 in the win over Tasman. The Hurricanes had scored 58 tries in 2012 and Taylor was part of many of these. He scored ten tries in 2012 and assisted in several more sharing the top try scorer of the season with Bjorn Basson of the Bulls
.
Taylor's form in 2012 for Taranaki in the No 15 jersey was limited due to injury, he played five matches and recorded seven points. He made another 10 appearances at fullback with the Hurricanes in 2013.
International career
In 2008 Taylor was selected in the
England
.
Taylor rejoined the
2012 end of year tour
, crossing the line once in three matches.