Matt Todd
Full name | Matthew Brendon Todd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 24 March 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Christchurch, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 105 kg (231 lb; 16 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Kaiapoi High School Christchurch Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Matthew Brendon Todd (born 24 March 1988) is a New Zealand
Todd played as a
Early life
Todd's started playing rugby at the Kaiapoi Rugby Football Union and went on to play for the Kaiapoi High School first XV. He then attended Christchurch Boys’ High School. While at Christchurch Boys' High School, Todd appeared alongside future All Black team-mates, Colin Slade and Owen Franks, as well as former Crusader Nasi Manu and current Crusader Tim Bateman.[1]
Playing career
Early career
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (April 2019) |
In 2009, Todd made his Air New Zealand Cup debut representing Canterbury as a replacement against Waikato at AMI Stadium.[2] He made his first start against Taranaki a week later in the second Shield challenge of the season.
In the
Following an early-season injury to McCaw, Todd was selected to play for the Crusaders 2011 season. Todd had previously been in the Crusaders' wider training group in 2010. Todd's presence in the Crusaders saw Richie McCaw switch jerseys, from 7 to 6, with Head Coach Todd Blackadder choosing to field two openside flankers, in order to make Todd a regular starter for the team.
2013-2017
In 2013, Todd played outstandingly in the absence of Richie McCaw, who was on sabbatical. Todd was subsequently selected for the All Blacks by Head Coach Steve Hansen. Todd made his international debut for them during a 24–9 victory over France on 22 June 2013, replacing fellow rookie Sam Cane off the bench in the 72nd minute. Todd was also used off the bench against South Africa that year.
After missing international rugby in 2014, Todd played against Samoa in Apia, in 2015, replacing veteran Jerome Kaino the bench for a one-off test match, which the All Blacks won, 25–16.
After missing the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Todd was re-selected for New Zealand in the 2016 Rugby Championship following a leg injury to Sam Cane. Todd earned the first two starts of his international career in the series, against South Africa and Australia, where New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup. He was notably named Man of the Match in the final Bledisloe Cup Test, before being replaced by Ardie Savea in the 65th minute, as the All Blacks beat Australia 37–10.[3] Todd's outstanding performance against Australia saw him taken on the 2016 end-of-year tour, where he played in a further two tests.
Todd's standout 2016 season saw him named as one of two vice-captains for the Crusaders in 2017 alongside Ryan Crotty, with lock Sam Whitelock named as captain.
Todd played the full 80 minutes against the touring
After Jerome Kaino paused his training with the All Blacks due to personal reasons and went to represent Auckland in the
2018
Todd captained the Crusaders numerous times during the
Although Todd was performing very well in comparison to Ardie Savea, who was struggling with injury, during Super Rugby, Savea was again chosen over Todd for the All Blacks' mid-year test series, which was against France. Todd was again called into the All Blacks, however, with Sam Cane struggling in regards to discipline, while Liam Squire and Vaea Fifita were struggling with injuries. Todd was named on the bench for the third test of the Steinlager series, on 23 June 2018. Todd replaced the injured Savea only 17 minutes into the test, scoring his first international try only minutes later. Todd starred against France as the All Blacks won 49–14.
After the conclusion of Super Rugby, Todd signed a high-profile one-season deal with Japan-based club, the
Todd played three tests off the bench during the end-of-year tour, replacing Ardie Savea in all of them. Todd unfortunately did not manage to make much of an impact towards New Zealand's 9–16 loss to Ireland, only playing for four minutes during the test.
2019
Todd returned to the Crusaders for the 2019 Super Rugby season, his final season in New Zealand, which saw him Captain the team occasionally throughout the season.[6] The Crusaders went on to win the competition for the third year in a row, sending Todd off on a high.
With Liam Squire opting out of consideration for All Black selection, Todd went on to start against South Africa in the 2019 Rugby Championship, also appearing as a substitute against Australia in the first Bledisloe Cup test of the year, which was a 26–47 loss.
All Blacks Head Coach, Steve Hansen named Todd in New Zealand's 31-man squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup on 28 August 2019.[7] Having narrowly missed selection in 2015, this was to be Todd's first World Cup.
Todd played in two tests during the World Cup's pool stages, including a start in a 63–0 victory over Canada. Todd was later named as a replacement for the quarter-final, against Ireland, scoring a try in the 46–14 victory, although he did receive a yellow card with three minutes left.[8] Although Todd was ruled out of the semi-final loss to England through injury, he played his last test for New Zealand on 1 November 2019, replacing Shannon Frizell, with 20 minutes left of the 40–17 win against Wales, during the World Cup's Bronze Final. Todd was one of five players to finish his international career for New Zealand that day, with Sonny Bill Williams, Ben Smith and Todd's Crusaders teammates, Ryan Crotty and Captain Kieran Read, all retiring that day, alongside Todd.[9]
2020-Present
Following the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Todd joined the
In 2024, a new house being built for Todd in Queenstown was caught up in the collapse of building firm Build 7 South Island. The firm was placed into liquidation with debts of NZ$1,500,000 before the building was completed. Todd may have lost as much as NZ$200,000. Speaking about the insolvent company, Todd said, "I feel terrible for the contractors who have worked so long on this project and have not been paid."[11]
Coaching career
Todd joined the coaching staff for the Canterbury football team for the 2022 National Provincial Championship.[12] He took the role of breakdown coach, working under the team's head coach Marty Bourke.
In 2023, it was announced that Todd would be joining the
Honours
New Zealand
- Rugby World Cup / Webb Ellis Cup
- Third-place: 2019
References
- ^ "Edinburgh new signing Nasi Manu open to Scotland call - Rugby union - The Sport Review". 3 July 2015.
- ^ "Canterbury run Waikato ragged - Planet Rugby". 14 August 2009.
- ^ "All Blacks openside Matt Todd wins them over with his big Eden Park effort". 23 October 2016.
- ^ "Openside flanker Matt Todd rewarded with top gong by Crusaders". 11 July 2018.
- ^ "Move to Japan too good to turn down, says All Blacks flanker Matt Todd". 12 July 2018.
- ^ "Super Rugby 2019: Matt Todd to lead Crusaders against Blues". newshub.co.nz. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ "All Blacks squad named for Rugby World Cup 2019". allblacks.com. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ "2019 Rugby World Cup: All Blacks destroy Ireland to set up semifinal showdown with England". nzherald.co.nz. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ "Teary Coles will not cry off his career as an All Black". rugbyworldcup.com. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ "NZ representative Matt Todd joins Toshiba!". 1 August 2019.
- ^ Van Beynen, Martin; Lapsley, Sophie (22 March 2024), "Ex-All Black's house project caught in builder's collapse", Stuff, retrieved 22 March 2024
- ^ "Former All Black Matt Todd appointed to Canterbury NPC rugby team coaching staff". 7 June 2022.
- ^ "Matt Todd named as Crusaders Assistant Coach". 6 June 2023.