Colin Slade

Colin Richard Slade (born 10 October 1987) is a former New Zealand rugby union player who has retired. Although he mainly played first five-eighth, he also filled in across the backline when needed. He earned his first All Blacks call-up in 2009 and was an important part of the squad that won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He was also selected for the 2015 tournament, though he only took the field once, against Namibia. That victory made him one of just 44 players to have won the Rugby World Cup more than once.

Slade’s schoolboy career at Christchurch Boys’ High School saw him play two seasons for the 1st XV, winning national titles both years alongside future All Blacks Matt Todd and Owen Franks, as well as later Crusaders players Nasi Manu and Tim Bateman.

He made his provincial debut for Canterbury in the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup, playing first five-eighth and scoring 86 points as his side won the competition. His form improved as the season went on, and with Dan Carter unavailable and Stephen Brett injured, he became Canterbury’s first-choice No. 10. In 2009, with Brett healthy again, Slade moved to fullback, starting 14 games and scoring four tries, including two outstanding ones in the final, as Canterbury repeated as champions. For the 2010 ITM Cup, he returned to first five and took over goal-kicking, scoring 152 points in just 11 starts—second in the competition behind Lachie Munro—and led Canterbury to a third straight title, sealing the final against Waikato with a fine individual try.

In Super Rugby, Slade’s 2008 provincial form earned him a spot in the Crusaders squad for 2009. Playing mostly out of position on the wing, he made 11 starts and appeared as a substitute in the semi-final against the Bulls. For the 2010 Super 14 season, he shifted to fullback, highlighted by a 21-point performance against the Lions and his first Super Rugby try against the Stormers. Seeking more time at his preferred position, he moved to the Highlanders for 2011, but injuries plagued him: a broken jaw in a preseason game cost him the first five matches, and after three solid outings, a second broken jaw ended his season.

In 2012, a broken leg in March against the Brumbies again cut his campaign short. After a difficult 2013 season with the Highlanders, Slade returned to the Crusaders for 2014. With Carter away for much of the year, he took over the No. 10 jersey, kicking at 82% and totaling 198 points. Even after Carter’s return, Slade kept the starting spot, with Carter shifting to No. 12, though the Crusaders lost the final to the Waratahs. The 2015 Super Rugby season was another strong one for Slade, but the Crusaders failed to make the playoffs.

Internationally, Slade played for New Zealand U-19 and U-21 sides and was selected for the Junior All Blacks in the 2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup, scoring 30 points including a try against Japan. That led to a spot in the All Blacks training squad for the third leg of the Tri Nations, though he didn’t play. In 2010, he was called up as a replacement for the injured Dan Carter for the final Tri Nations match against the Wallabies on 11 September, making his debut off the bench in the 60th minute for Aaron Cruden.

In July 2011, he impressed in a friendly against Fiji, scoring a try, two penalties, and four conversions. He then started in New Zealand’s opening Tri Nations game against South Africa, scoring a try in a 40–7 win, and later got his first Tri Nations start against the same opponent. Selected for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, he came on as a substitute in the opening match and converted Ma’a Nonu’s try. After Dan Carter’s groin injury forced him out of the tournament, Slade was named the starting fly-half.

Despite public doubts after a difficult Tri Nations game and an ordinary World Cup opener, Coach Graham Henry backed him. However, Slade aggravated a groin tear during the match against Argentina and was ruled out for the rest of the tournament. He later played in the 2014 test against the Springboks at Ellis Park.