We as a nation love our All Blacks and we have had many greats such as Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Jerry Collins just to name a few, but we’ve also had many who have faded away and we’ve simply just forgotten.

Here is a list of just 10 forgotten All-Black Battlers from the Past.

 

  1. Aaron Cruden

Probably a Top 5 Fly-half for the All Blacks but unfortunately played in a time when the greatest 10 of all time Dan Carter was always the first pick, still a fantastic player Aaron Cruden most recently applied his trade in Japan.

 

  1. Charlie Ngatai

One of the most electric backs from Super Rugby 10 years ago the Chiefs Legend most recently played for Leinster in Europe

 

  1. Richard Kahui

The star of the hit TV show “Cooking with Kahui” could arguably go down as one of the great All Blacks Midfielders. The silver fox most recently played for the Western Force in Super Rugby back in 2022.

 

  1. Chris Jack

One of the greatest people with two first names the 67 cap All Black is now enjoying the simple life doing a building apprenticeship in the coastal city of Nelson after retiring in 2011 

 

  1. Lima Sopoaga

The 16 caps All Black and a key player in the 2015 Highlanders Super Rugby winning team is now still playing in Japan.

 

  1. Robbie Robinson

Not technically an All Black but played U20s and was a staple of the Maori All Blacks I put Robbie in here cause he was one of my favourite players growing up. The first five and fullback is now playing in Japan.

 

  1. Tom Taylor

The three-cap utility also suffered the same fate as Aaron Cruden having to sit behind Dan Carter. 

 

  1. Rodney So’oialo

A formidable opponent to come up against and a beast on EA Sports Rugby 08, this former 62 cap AB is now the director of rugby and head coach at Trinity College Kandy in Sri Lanka.

 

  1. Hosea Gear

Probably the most explosive winger the All Blacks have ever seen alongside his brother Rico. He has most recently played for East Coast in NZ club footy back in 2021.

 

  1. Jimmy Cowan

Can’t have a forgotten All Blacks without including the 53-capped half-back Southland legend Jimmy Cowan. He has not played a professional in about 9 years but is probably having a great time in retirement.

 

 

Photo Credit: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz