James Marshall (rugby union)

James Ryan Marshall (born 7 December 1988) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the first five-eighth, fullback and occasionally second five-eighth positions for Top Challenge League side Coca-Cola Red Sparks, he has previously played for the Wellington-based Super Rugby team the Hurricanes, and captained the Taranaki ITM Cup side.[1]

James Marshall

Full name	James Ryan Marshall
Date of birth	(1988-12-07) 7 December 1988
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	93 kg (205 lb; 14 st 9 lb)
School	Nelson College
Notable relative(s)	Tom Marshall (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth, Fullback, Centre Current team Hurricanes, Coca-Cola Red Sparks Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2008–2011 Tasman 36 (46) 2010–2011 Aironi 18 (47) 2012–2015 Taranaki 26 (30) 2013– Hurricanes 45 (87) 2016–2018 London Irish 43 (98) 2018– Coca-Cola Red Sparks 9 (60) Correct as of 15 April 2019 National sevens team(s) Years Team Comps 2011 New Zealand 2 Correct as of 15 April 2019

Early life

Marshall was born in Auckland but moved to Nelson as a child, playing his junior rugby for Stoke and Nelson. He was educated at Nelson College from 2002 to 2006 and played in the school's 1st XV in his final two years there.[2][3] Marshall also came to the attention of national selectors. However, he failed to make the New Zealand Under 17's and Under 19s. It was the same with the New Zealand Under 20s, losing out to Hawke's Bay five-eighth Daniel Kirkpatrick and Waikato's Trent Renata. He is the older brother of Crusader Tom Marshall.[1][4]

Domestic career

Marshall started his career with Tasman after he made his debut for the Makos in the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup competition, coming on as a replacement against Bay of Plenty. In 2009 he suffered an injury in the first match which kept him out for most of the season, but went on and made his first full game against Taranaki. During the 2010 ITM Cup he made an immediate impact with his decisive running and ability to spot a gap. His strong performances saw him take over Fly-half, mainly starting in the number 10 position throughout the season.[5]

Marshall left for Italy to begin a six-month contract with Aironi Rugby after his name was missing from Super 15 squad selections.[6] He spent five months playing for the side, making several Heineken Cup appearances and also featuring in the Celtic League.[7] However he continued his career with Tasman during the 2011 season before he headed north on a two-year contract with Taranaki, having played 36 games and scored 46 points for the side.[8] He made his debut for Taranaki, playing the season's first two Ranfurly Shield matches against King Country and Wanganui. His performances didn't go unnoticed by the national media or the Super Rugby coaches as he went on to play all 12 matches and score 5 tries. Marshall's versatility and high standard of performance in several positions, including wing, first five-eighth, fullback and second five-eighth helped him win Taranaki back of the year for 2012 ahead of finalists Frazier Climo and Jamison Gibson-Park.[9]

His form for Taranaki in the No 10 jersey in Beauden Barrett's absence saw him pick up a Hurricanes contract in late 2012.[10][11][12] He played his first Super Rugby match in the Hurricanes 29–28 victory over the Crusaders in Week 4 of the 2013 competition. He had an eye-catching debut season, starting the season as the Hurricanes’ back-up first five-eighth behind Taranaki teammate Beauden Barrett and ending it by making three straight starting appearances at fullback. In all, he started or came off the bench in eight matches out of 16 in 2013.

Marshall made two starts for the Hurricanes at fullback in 2014, before captaining Taranaki to win their maiden ITM Cup premiership title.

On 6 January 2016 it was announced that Marshall would join the Greene King IPA Championship side London Irish ahead of the 2016-17 season.[13]

International career

In 2011, Marshall played for New Zealand at the Sevens World Series on the Gold Coast and in Dubai. However, he missed the competition's third leg, in Port Elizabeth, because he returned New Zealand to join the Hurricanes Wider Training Group.[14]

References

1. "James Marshall profile". Hurricanes. 2013. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
2. "Good sports" (PDF). The Bulletin. Nelson College Old Boys' Association. November 2011. p. 14. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
3. Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition
4. McLean, Glenn (30 August 2012). "Tasman confident of lifting Ranfurly Shield". Taranaki Daily. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
5. "James Marshall Player Profile". Rugby Links. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
6. "James Marshall gets Italian call". Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
7. "James Marshall". Profile. Pro 12. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
8. "James Marshall leaving Tasman for Taranaki". 21 November 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
9. "Michael Bent best in amber and black". Taranaki Daily News. Fairfax. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
10. "Hurricanes announce three new signings". Rugby News. Television New Zealand. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
11. "Taranaki trio sign Hurricanes" (Press release). Hurricanes. 25 November 2012. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
12. "Hard-working Marshall perfect fit this time". Taranaki Daily. fairfax. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
13. "London Irish capture Hurricanes fly-half James Marshall". BBC Sport. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
14. http://www.allblacks.com/news/18216/ODonnell-joins-NZ-Sevens-team-in-South-Africa