Simon Maling

Born in Christchurch Simon Maling was educated at Christ’s College and Otago University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. A lock forward, he served a relatively long rugby apprenticeship before becoming established at the top level. His first class debut came with three matches for New Zealand Colts in 1996, two of them at the Southern Hemisphere Under 21 tournament. The following year he made three Super 12 appearances for the Highlanders, played once for the Rugby Academy and had eight matches for Otago, mostly as a replacement.

The next year, 1998, saw more of the same. All his five appearances for the Highlanders and eight out of nine for Otago were as substitutes. However he had the satisfaction of playing twice for the Rugby Academy for two very good wins against international opponents, 50-32 against England and 48-0 versus Tonga.

There was another win with the Rugby Academy in 1999, against the Australian Barbarians, but all his appearances for the Highlanders were off the bench and just two of seven for Otago, and then as a flanker, were in the starting XV. Maling’s breakthrough year came in 2000 when he started in eight matches for the Highlanders and all Otago’s eleven games. The Rugby Almanack thought he and locking partner John Blaikie provided consistent service from the lineout and scrum.

Good form throughout a full Super 12 and NPC campaign in 2001 saw him chosen for the All Blacks’ end of season tour to Ireland, Scotland and Argentina, when he played in the two midweek games. He was also invited to play for the U K Barbarians against South Africa. His career reached a high in 2002 when he appeared in seven of the season’s eight tests, starting in all the Tri Nations matches, a series New Zealand won for the first time since 1999. Along with many of the others who had played the Tri Nations series he was omitted from the end of season tour to England, France and Wales but did appear again for the Barbarians, this time against Australia.

After playing the Super 12 matches Maling missed the rest of the 2003 season through injury. He returned to the All Blacks in 2004, playing in four of the home and Tri-Nations tests, but was not required for the end os season tour to Europe. The Rugby Almanack commented that “Simon Maling lacked the enthusiasm of earlier in his career”. At the end of the season he left New Zealand to play for the Harlequins in London before taking up a contract in Japan.

A clever lineout forward with a good workrate Maling perhaps lacked the physical presence to dominate at the very top level. But he was a respected opponent at all levels and gave good service to the All Blacks in the 13 matches (11 tests) that he played.