Keven Mealamu
Keven Mealamu was born in Tokoroa, Waikato Region, New Zealand on March 20th, 1979 and is the Rugby Player. At the age of 45, Keven Mealamu biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 45 years old, Keven Mealamu has this physical status:
Keven Mealamu (born 20 March 1979) is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer.
He played at hooker for the Blues in Super Rugby, Auckland in the National Provincial Championship, and the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks.
He was a key member of 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winning teams, becoming one of only twenty dual Rugby Union World Cup winners. In a Bledisloe Cup test match against Australia on 20 October 2012, Mealamu became the third All Black to reach 100 test appearances.
He clinched the 2003 Super Rugby Title.
In April 2016 Mealamu received the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Early life
The grandson of Samoan immigrants, Mealamu was raised in Tokoroa where his father, a body building champion, worked at the local timber mill. The family eventually moved to Auckland due to the decline of the timber industry. He is a former student of Aorere College, where his brother and former Manu Samoa player Luke Mealamu currently works as a social worker. As a schoolboy he played as a flanker for New Zealand Under-16s and New Zealand Schools before switching to hooker in 1998. After finishing school he worked as an apprentice signwriter in case his rugby career did not work out.
Personal life
Mealamu is a skilled artist and has illustrated several books to raise money for the Starship Children's Hospital. A practising Catholic, Mealamu and his wife Latai, whom he married in 2003, have two children.
Career
Mealamu made his provincial debut against North Harbour in 1999. He first played for the Blues in 2000 but he spent a year with the Chiefs in 2002 – the same year he debuted for the All Blacks. Mealamu also contributed to the start of the All Blacks' 2006 Tri Nations campaign by defeating the Wallabies twice during the first match. Mealamu captained the Blues in 2006-2005 but was forced to relinquish captaincy in 2007 due to his All Black commitments. In 2014, he made his 150th appearance for the Blues, becoming the first Super Rugby player to make 150 appearances for just one team.
Mealamu made his All Black debut against Wales at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on November 23, 2002. He was named test captain in the test match against Scotland during the 2008 Grand Slam Tour, as regular captain Richie McCaw was a reserve for the match. He was a member of New Zealand's 2011 Rugby World Cup winning squad.
Mealamu was known for his tough-tackling style in the game.
On October 31st, the 2015 Rugby World Cup Finals would be his last match as an All Black. He was one of six senior players to withdraw from International rugby following the tournament.
Mealamu was selected a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby in the 2016 New Year Honours.
Mealamu was a key part of the national team's leadership team and he was a fixture in the All Blacks' haka tournament 31 times. He appeared on the Ka Mate 23 times and the latest Kapa o Pango version 8 times. He was the team's first captain against Italy in September 2007. He was in his final international test before leading the Kapa o Pango haka to the final against Australia during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.