Sam Broomhall

Sam Broomhall, aged 24, from the Leeston club in the Ellesmere sub-union, seemingly came from nowhere into the Canterbury NPC team for the 2000 season, starting at No. 8 in all eleven matches. His form was such that the Rugby Almanack chose him as one of its ‘Five Promising Players of the Year’.

Born in Christchurch Sam Broomhall attended Leeston Primary School and Ellesmere College where he had three years in the College 1st XV. He appeared for Ellesmere sub-union representative teams, Canterbury Under 19, Colts, Sevens and toured to Canada and the United Kingdom in 1997 with the New Zealand Youth side.

His 2000 form earned him a Crusaders contract in 2001, when he made nine appearances. This was followed by thirteen in the NPC for Canterbury, though seven of these were off the bench, All Black Scott Robertson being the preferred No. 8.

Robertson again generally was the starting No. 8 during the 2002 Super 12, with Broomhall coming off the bench in all but three of his 12 appearances. In the NPC Broomhall began the campaign at No. 8, then when Robertson came back from All Black duty at No. 8, played the last nine games as blindside flanker.

The Rugby Almanack commented ‘Sam Broomhall continued as one of the best running forwards in the country’. His seniority was acknowledged when he and Ben Hurst shared the captaincy for the early NPC matches before All Blacks Aaron Mauger and Mark Hammett returned to the squad.

After appearing for the Barbarians v New Zealand Maori in June Broomhall’s All Black debut came during the 2002 Tri-Nations series when he came on as a substitute in the two South African tests. He made the three test Northern Hemisphere end of season tour, playing the tests against England and France at No. 8.

Those four matches were the extent of Broomhall’s All Black involvement, though he continued with both the Crusaders and Canterbury until leaving, after two rounds of the 2005 NPC, to take up a contract with Clermont Auvergne in France. Though he remained the first choice No. 8 for Canterbury in 2003-04 he shared the position for the Crusaders first with Robertson, then in 2004-05 with Moses Tuiali’i.

Though his All Black career was brief Broomhall was always a skilled, committed and efficient player with an exemplary work ethic. He was part of Crusaders teams that won the Super 12 in 2002 and 2004, and of NPC winning Canterbury sides in those years. He captained the Canterbury team that lifted the Ranfurly Shield from Bay of Plenty in 2004.