Zinzan Brooke

Former New Zealand rugby union player, Zinzan Brooke, is considered one of the best Number Eights to have ever played for the All Blacks team. He possessed the flair and ability of a back, and combined this with the raw toughness and durability of an uncompromising back row specialist. Often referred to as one of the best rugby players of all time, he was always a talented sportsman, with his skill being spotted from a junior level. Zinzan initially started playing rugby as a founding member of the Southerner Sports Club in Bangkok, before he moved to play for Auckland and New Zealand. 

He was primarily known for his running and kicking skills, Zinzan became a prominent player for all of the teams he played for. He played 58 international test and 42 non-international matches for the All Blacks, and even captained the team on five occasions. Zinzan produced results like no other player, and scored an impressive 195 points during his captaincy.  Moreover, Zinzan also captained the Auckland Blues to the Super 12 Championships in 1996 and in 1997. He also set a world record of 17 tries in a test match for a forward, making him one of the most notorious forwards in the game at the time. Zinzan is part of an extremely elite bunch, being part of the New Zealand team that went on to win its first ever world cup tournament that no All Black team has repeated since. 

It was in 1997 that Zinzan decided to retire from international rugby, and moved to England to play for Harlequins, which he eventually went on to coach. Not only that, Zinzan also went on to run his own successful recruitment and construction business, along with a bed and breakfast in Windsor, Berkshire. A brilliant international captain, rugby legend, businessman and an all round nice guy, Zinzan most definitely has stories, insight, knowledge and opinion to share with an audience, thus making him a great choice for all manner of corporate events, conferences and after dinner functions.