Keven Mealamu

Hard-tackling All Blacks hooker and two-time Rugby World Cup winner.

Keven Filipo 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. He was part of the Blues team that won the 2003 Super 12 title, the third for the franchise. He was a key member of 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winning teams, becoming one of only 21 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions. In a Bledisloe Cup test match against Australia on 20 October 2012, Mealamu became the third All Black to reach 100 test appearances.

Quick Facts

Birth name

Keven Filipo Mealamu

Birthplace

Tokoroa, New Zealand

Born

20 March 1979

School

Aorere College

Weight

111 kg / 245 lb

Medals

Men's rugby union, Rugby World Cup
2011 New Zealand, Squad
2015 England, Squad

Lore & Background

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.

Reader's Guide

Mealamu made his provincial debut for Auckland in 1999 against North Harbour. He first played for the Blues in 2000, but had a stint with the Chiefs in 2002 – the same year he debuted for the All Blacks. Mealamu also made a fine contribution to the start of the All Blacks' 2006 Tri Nations campaign with two tries against the Wallabies during the first match. Mealamu captained the Blues through their 2006 Super 14 campaign, but was forced to relinquish the captaincy in 2007 due to his commitments to the All Blacks.

In 2014, he made his 150th appearance for the Blues, becoming the first player in Super Rugby history to make 150 appearances for one team. He made his debut for the All Blacks on 23 November 2002, against Wales at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. He was made test captain in the test match against Scotland during the All Blacks 2008 Grand Slam tour, as regular captain Richie McCaw was a reserve for that match. He was a part of New Zealand's 2011 Rugby World Cup winning squad.

The 2015 Rugby World Cup final on 31 October was his last match as an All Black. He was one of six senior players who retired from International rugby after the competition. In the 2016 New Year Honours, Mealamu was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby.

Did You Know?

Mealamu led the haka for the All Blacks 31 times, first leading it in September 2007 against Italy.
He led the Ka Mate version 23 times and the Kapa o Pango version 8 times.
In his final international test he led the Kapa o Pango haka before the final against Australia during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Mealamu was elected to the Papakura Local Board in 2019.
He is a skilled artist and has illustrated several books to raise money for the Starship Children's Hospital.