Zinzan Brooke

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Brooke was a founding player of the Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok), playing in the inaugural side in 1994 against Taradale RFC. In 1995 he published his autobiography Zinny: The Zinzan Brooke story, written with Alex Veysey. He once kicked a 48-metre drop goal during a 1995 Rugby World Cup match, one of three he scored in test matches. In the 1997 New Year Honours, Brooke was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby. He scored his third drop goal during the All Blacks' 42–7 win against Wales at Wembley Stadium on 29 November 1997. He also set up a try for Christian Cullen. In 2007, former England centre and captain Will Carling published his list of the '50 Greatest Rugby players' in The Daily Telegraph, and ranked Brooke the ninth greatest player of all time.

In Their Own Story

On 29 November 1997, under the lights at Wembley Stadium, Zinzan Brooke etched his name into history. Facing Wales, the All Blacks secured an impressive 42–7 win. In the midst of this dominance, Brooke executed a drop goal from 48 metres out, marking his third such score in test matches. This moment was not just a points addition but a rare distinction, making him the only rugby player to have 'scored a goal at Wembley.' The brilliance didn't stop there; he also set up a try for Christian Cullen during the same match, showcasing the dual threat of his game. Just months prior, he had been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 1997 New Year Honours for services to rugby, cementing his status as an icon before retiring from international rugby that year.

Reader's Guide

Brooke is considered one of the best number eights to have ever played for the All Blacks. He had the running and kicking skills of a backline player which made him extremely mobile and agile as a forward. He captained Auckland Blues to Super 12 championships in 1996 and 1997 and was an influential figure in Auckland's dominance in the National Provincial Championship during the late 1980s and 1990s.

Did You Know?

• Brooke scored 17 tries in test matches, then a world record for a forward.
• He once kicked a 48-metre drop goal during a 1995 Rugby World Cup match.
• Brooke was inducted into the TVNZ This Is Your Life wall of fame in 2011.
• He ran Frances Lodge, a boutique bed and breakfast in Windsor, Berkshire, with his wife, but it closed when both were declared bankrupt in the UK in August 2012.
• Brooke suffered head trauma in May 2007 while falling out of a taxi in the Spanish town of Elche, though the circumstances are unclear.