Shontayne Hape
Personal information
Full name	Shontayne Hape
Date of birth	January 30, 1981 (1981-01-30) (age 28)
Place of birth	Auckland , New Zealand
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	16 st 5 lb (104 kg)
Nickname	Shonny, Champagne
Rugby league career
Position	Centre
Professional clubs		Caps	(points)
2003-2008 1999-2002	Bradford New Zealand Warriors	136 28	(340) (28)
National teams
2004-2007	New Zealand	14	(56)
Rugby union career
Current status
Position(s)	Centre, Wing
current team	Bath Rugby
Playing career
Position	Centre
Clubs		Caps	(points)
2008-present	Bath Rugby	15	(10)
National team(s)
	England

Shontayne Hape is a New Zealand-born rugby footballer. He currently plays rugby union at centre for Bath Rugby. He has also previously played rugby league for the Bradford Bulls in Super League and New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League. Hape 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 was centre.

[edit] Career

[edit] New Zealand Warriors

A Massey High School student and Te Atatu Roosters junior, Hape signed for the Auckland Warriors in 1999. In 1999 he also played for the Junior Kiwis and New Zealand Māori.^[1] In 2000 Hape made his first grade debut for the Warriors and earned the great honour of Rookie of the Year award. While at the Warriors, Hape also played for their feeder club the [auckland vulcans].

In 2001 the Warriors reached the play-offs, and Shontayne played in the series. In Round Two of the 2002 season, Hape injured his anterior cruciate ligament damage, which ruled him out for the year and he missed the Grand Final.

[edit] 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.

[edit] New Zealand

In the Winter of 2004, Hape was chosen to represent New Zealand in the Gillette 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 starring 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.

[edit] Rugby Union

[edit] Bath Rugby

Hape qualified for the England team 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.^[2][3]

In late May 2008, it was announced that he would be joining Bath Rugby on a three-year deal.^[4]

[edit] Statistics

[edit] Club career

Year	Club	Apps	Pts	T	G	FG
2000	New Zealand Warriors	13	12	3	-	-
2001	New Zealand Warriors	14	16	4	-	-
2002	New Zealand Warriors	1	-	-	-
2003	Bradford Bulls	29	48	12	-	-
2004	Bradford Bulls	26	96	24	-	-
2005	Bradford Bulls	12	48	12	-	-
2006	Bradford Bulls	31	84	21	-	-
2007	Bradford Bulls	9	20	5 -	-	-
2008	Bradford Bulls	13	16	4 -	-	-
2008-09	Bath Rugby	15	10	2 -	-	-

[edit] Representative career

Year	Team	Matches	Tries	Goals	Field Goals	Points
2004	New Zealand	4	3	0	0	12
2005	New Zealand	3	0	0	0	0
2006	New Zealand	3	1	0	0	4
2007	New Zealand	3	2	0	0	8
2008	New Zealand	0	0	0	0	0

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Shontayne Hape Official Player Profile
• Shontayne Hape Official Website
• Hape hits out as Paul quits Bulls
• Hape suffers serious knee injury
• Bulls suffer Hape injury blow
• NZRL Profile
• Bulls tie up Hape contract
• Bull Masters - Shontayne Hape
• Team Of The Century