Sam Whitelock facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sam Whitelock

Whitelock playing against Italy, November 2021
Full name	Samuel Lawrence Whitelock
Date of birth	(1988-10-12) 12 October 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth	Palmerston North, New Zealand
Height	2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
Weight	120 kg (265 lb; 18 st 13 lb)
School	Feilding High School
Notable relative(s)	Ben Funnell (cousin) Adam Whitelock (brother) George Whitelock (brother) Luke Whitelock (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2008–2023 Canterbury 22 (15) 2010–2023 Crusaders 180 (45) 2020 Panasonic Wild Knights 5 (0) 2024 Pau 13 (10) 2024 Barbarian F.C. 1 (0) Correct as of 9 June 2024 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2007 New Zealand U19 4 (0) 2008 New Zealand U20 5 (5) 2010–2023 New Zealand 153 (35) Correct as of 28 October 2023

Samuel Lawrence Whitelock (born October 12, 1988) is a famous former rugby union player from New Zealand. He was given the title of Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for his great work in rugby and the community.

Sam Whitelock played over 150 games for the All Blacks (New Zealand's national rugby team) since 2010. He was the youngest New Zealander to play 100 test matches. He also reached 100 international games faster than anyone else.

In 2017, Sam Whitelock won the New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year award. He was well-known for playing alongside Brodie Retallick. They formed a strong team, playing 50 test matches together. Sam was a key player in the All Blacks teams that won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015. This made him one of only 43 players to win the men's Rugby World Cup more than once.

Sam played his last rugby game on June 22, 2024. He was the captain of the Barbarians team playing against Fiji.

Sam Whitelock's Rugby Journey

Starting His Career

Sam Whitelock was part of the Baby All Blacks team that won the world championship in 2008. He played five games in that tournament. He scored a try against Argentina.

In 2008, Sam made his first appearance for Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup. His first game for the Crusaders in Super Rugby was in 2010. This was against the Highlanders.

Joining the All Blacks

In 2010, Sam was chosen to play for the All Blacks. He made his debut against Ireland, coming off the bench. He scored two tries in that game. Sam played ten test matches in 2010. He has been a regular player for the All Blacks ever since.

World Cup Wins: 2011 and 2015

Sam was part of New Zealand's team for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He started in the second pool game against Japan, which New Zealand won 83–7. He kept his starting position for the rest of the World Cup. This included the final game against France, which the All Blacks won 8–7. This victory meant they won the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

In 2012, Sam became a regular starter for the All Blacks. He played in 13 of their 14 test matches that year. He scored his fourth test try in a 32–16 win over South Africa.

In 2013, Sam signed a contract to stay with New Zealand Rugby for four more years. He and Brodie Retallick became a very strong team. They played together eight times in 2013. Sam played his 50th test match in a 30–22 win against England.

Sam played in all three games when England toured New Zealand in 2014. The All Blacks won all three matches. He continued his great form into the 2015 Super Rugby season. He even scored an amazing 60-meter solo try in a game against the Reds. Sam was then selected for his second Rugby World Cup. He played in every All Blacks game in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. This included all three knockout rounds. The All Blacks won the final 34–17 against Australia. This made Sam one of only 21 players to win the Rugby World Cup more than once.

Crusaders Captain and More Records

In 2016, Sam played his 100th game for the Crusaders. He scored the first try in their big 85–26 win over the Melbourne Rebels. Later that year, he became the most-capped All Blacks lock. He played 11 games, passing Ian Jones' record of 79 tests.

Sam was nominated for the best New Zealand Player of the Year in 2016. However, he lost to Beauden Barrett.

In 2017, new Crusaders coach Scott Robertson named Sam as the captain of the team. Sam had a fantastic Super Rugby season. He led the Crusaders to their first Super Rugby title since 2008. They beat the Lions 25–17 in the final. The Crusaders only lost one game in the 2017 Super Rugby season.

Sam signed another three-year contract with New Zealand Rugby in 2017. He played 12 games for the All Blacks that year. In the final test of 2017, a 33–18 win over Wales, Sam was named captain of the All Blacks for the first time. He was the 69th test captain for the team. This happened because regular captain Kieran Read was out with an injury.

After returning home, Sam won two awards at the 2017 NZ Rugby Awards. He won Super Rugby Player of the Year and the best New Zealand Player of the Year.

Leading the All Blacks and Milestones

Sam was an excellent captain for the Crusaders in the 2018 Super Rugby season. In May 2018, All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen named Sam as the captain for their three-test series against France.

Sam led New Zealand to a 52–11 victory over France in the first test. He played very well in all three tests, helping New Zealand win the series 3–0. After these games, Sam captained the Crusaders to another Super Rugby win. They beat the Lions 37–18 in the final.

When Kieran Read returned from injury, Sam stepped down as All Blacks captain for the 2018 Rugby Championship. On August 18, 2018, Sam played his 100th test match for New Zealand. The All Blacks beat Australia 38–13. Sam became the youngest All Black to reach 100 tests, at only 29 years old. He also played his 47th test alongside Brodie Retallick.

Sam played in all six tests of the Rugby Championship. He captained the All Blacks for the fifth time during this competition. He led them to a 35–17 win over Argentina.

Sam missed the test against Japan in 2018 to rest. He played very well against England, helping the All Blacks win 16–15. However, they lost to Ireland the following week. Sam did not play in the final test of the year against Italy.

After a break, Sam returned to lead the Crusaders in the 2019 Super Rugby season. In April 2019, Sam extended his contract with New Zealand Rugby and the Crusaders until 2023. He took a break from Super Rugby in 2020 to play for the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan.

Sam was named in New Zealand's team for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. This was his third World Cup. He captained the All Blacks in their 71–9 win over Namibia. He also started in the quarter-final win against Ireland and the semi-final loss to England.

Final Years and Records

New All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster included Sam in his 2020 squad. Sam was the only player still active from the 2011 Rugby World Cup team. He played five tests in 2020. In 2021, he captained the All Blacks eight times because Sam Cane was injured.

In 2022, Sam became the second-most capped player in New Zealand's history, passing Keven Mealamu. He captained the All Blacks four more times. Sam and Brodie Retallick set a world record by playing 64 tests together as locks. Their last game together was a 25–25 draw with England.

In 2023, Sam was selected for his fourth 2023 Rugby World Cup. He was the only player left from the 2011 winning team. On September 29, 2023, Sam became the most-capped All Black of all time. He played his 149th test, passing Richie McCaw's record of 148. After this, he became only the second male player in history to reach 150 caps. His 150th test was a 73–0 win over Uruguay.

In the World Cup quarter-final against Ireland, Sam came off the bench. He helped the All Blacks win a crucial turnover, securing a narrow 28–24 victory. In the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, Sam came on as a substitute. New Zealand lost 11–12 to South Africa. Sam then retired from international rugby. He had scored 7 tries in 153 test matches. He then joined Pau in France.

Sam's International Tries

Updated: 24 September 2022 Source: [1]

Awards and Achievements

Super Rugby Honors

• Played 100 Super Rugby games (Super Rugby Centurion)
• Won the Super Rugby Championship: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Named Player of the Match in the Super Rugby Pacific Final: 2022, 2023

Individual Awards

• New Zealand Rugby Player of the Year
  • Winner: 2017 (also nominated in 2016)
• Played 100 Test Rugby games (Test Rugby Centurion)
• All Black Captain: 2017–2022 (for 18 tests)
• Chosen for the World Rugby Men's 15s Dream Team of the Year: 2022

International Team Honors

Sam's Life Outside Rugby

Sam Whitelock is married to Hannah Lawton, and they have three children. When he's not playing rugby, Sam is a farmer. He plans to continue farming after his rugby career ends.

Sam Whitelock comes from a family famous for rugby. Many of his relatives have also played the sport:

• George Whitelock - His older brother, who played for Canterbury, the Crusaders, and the All Blacks.
• Adam Whitelock - Another older brother, who played for Canterbury, the Crusaders, and the All Black Sevens.
• Luke Whitelock - His younger brother, who has played for Canterbury, the Crusaders, the Highlanders, and the All Blacks.
• Ben Funnell - His cousin, who played for Canterbury and the Crusaders.
• Braeden Whitelock - His father, who played for the Junior All Blacks.
• Nelson Dalzell (1921-1989) - His grandfather, who played for the All Blacks.

All four Whitelock brothers went to school in Feilding.

Images for kids

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  Sam Whitelock playing against Italy, November 2021

See also

In Spanish: Sam Whitelock para niños