Shontayne Hape plays centre for Bath Rugby. Hape has also previously played for the Bradford Bulls and New Zealand Warriors in the NRL. Shontayne has also represented New Zealand at international level by being selected for both the junior and senior squads including the 2006 Gillette Tri-Nations New Zealand squad. His usual position is centre.
Career
New Zealand Warriors
In 1999 Hape signed for the Auckland Warriors (as they were known at the time), and he also played for the junior Kiwis. In 2000 Hape made his first grade debut for the Warriors and earned the great honour of Rookie of the Year award.
In 2001 the Warriors reached the play-offs, and Shontayne played in the series. In 2002 in round two, Hape injured his anterior cruciate ligament damage, which ruled him out for the year and he missed the Grand Final
Bradford Bulls
In 2003 he joined the Bulls from the New Zealand Warriors and missed only one of the Bulls' 35 games in the 2003 season, scoring 15 tries. A knee injury sustained while playing for New Zealand in the 2004 Tri Nations kept him out until round 22 in 2005.
His return coincided with the Bulls charge towards the Grand Final and the Super league Championship. His partnership with Lesley Vainikolo is seen as one of the best in the game and has yielded many tries for the Bulls.
In March 2007, Shontayne was ruled out for most of the season due to an injury of his cruciate ligaments. In August 2007 he was named Bradford's team of the Century. In September 2007 Hape returned for the round 27 Match v Hull F.C. His last game was against Hull KR on the 29th June 2008.
New Zealand
In the Winter of 2004, Hape was chosen to represent New Zealand in the Gilette Tri-Nations, replacing his partner on the wing at the Bulls, Lesley Vainikolo who was out with a knee injury. Hape played 2 Tri-Nations games and against France and also represented the Kiwis in the clash with Cumbria.
Hape also appeared for New Zealand in the Tri-Nations series in 2005, where he played a staring role helping New Zealand defeat the Aussies to win the final. In 2006, Hape played in the match against Great Britain in the one off Test match at St Helens.
Rugby Union
Bath Rugby
Hape qualified for the England on residency grounds, having spent the last six years in England. After Bulls and New Zealand colleague Lesley Vainikolo made a successful switch to rugby union with Gloucester, Hape was initially linked with Guinness Premiership-bound Northampton Saints.[1][2]
In late May 2008, it was announced that he would be joining Bath Rugby on a three-year deal.[3]
The 26-year-old former Auckland Warrior, who is off-contract with the Bulls at the end of the season, qualifies for England on residency grounds, having spent the last six years in this country. Former teammate at Bradford, Lesley Vainikolo plays for Gloucester in the Guinness Premiership.[1]
Statistics
Club Career
Representative Career
References
External links
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