Eric Rush Rugby player
Eric James Rush (born 11 February 1965 in Kaeo, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and a Rugby Sevens legend. His New Zealand Sevens career began in 1988 and ran until past his 39th birthday in 2004. Rush played in more than 60 tournaments, with the highlights being two Commonwealth Games gold medals and the World Cup Sevens victory in 2001. He was also voted Best and Fairest Player at the 1991 Hong Kong Sevens.He is regarded as a pacy and skillful winger and also played for the All Blacks briefly until the emergence of Jonah Lomu effectively ended his All Blacks career. Lomu played a major role in the 2001 World Cup Sevens win, effectively filling in for Rush, who suffered a broken leg in New Zealand's last group match of that tournament.Rush switched full-time to Rugby Sevens in 1999 to compete in the newly formed IRB international Sevens circuit. Rush helped NZ to win the first 6 versions of the World Sevens Series.Over the course of 14 years, Rush has regularly appeared for the New Zealand Sevens team at the Hong Kong Sevens and other Sevens tournaments, mostly as captain. In later years, he converted himself into a forward in the Sevens version, with the wing position given to his understudy Karl Te Nana.In 15's rugby, Rush played first for Auckland Rugby Union then moved North to play for North Harbour at NPC level, where he blossomed.Rush retired from playing in 2005 and is currently assistant to New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens – and favourite to succeed him when he retires.
