Josh Blackie Rugby player
Josh Blackie (born 3 August 1979 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the Blues and Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers in JapanBlackie played his first match for the Highlanders in 2001, and played openside flanker for the Junior All Blacks. In 2003 he was the leading try scorer for New Zealand and equal lead in 2005 for the Highlanders, with whom he has collected 57 caps and scored nine tries. He has played over a dozen tournaments as part of the New Zealand Rugby Sevens team. He won a Gold medal at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.During his stint in the New Zealand under-21's Blackie was actually the first choice openside flanker (no. 7) ahead of current All Black Openside and skipper Richie McCaw.On 23 April 2007, it was announced that Blackie would leave the Otago Rugby Football Union and the Highlanders to take up a contract to play rugby in Japan for the Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers. He played for the Steelers throughout the 2007–08 Top League season.On 10 October 2008, it was stated that Josh Blackie signed a 2-year deal with the Auckland Rugby Union, making him eligible for the Blues and the All Blacks. Blackie cites the reason for moving to Auckland instead of Otago was he was born and raised in Auckland.In 2013 Blackie established a scholarship of academic and sports fees for a year 10 student at his old school Liston College.