The bolt from the Blue: how an Eagle landed himself a Super Rugby gig
If anyone at the Blues qualifies as a surprise package it must surely be Tony Lamborn, a flanker who represented the United States at the recent World Cup and an eyebrow-raising choice to start in the No7 jersey against the Chiefs – an opportunity he took with both hands.
Lamborn’s all-energy performance and flat-out pace over 25m also earned him the honour of going into the history books as 2020’s first Super Rugby try scorer and this week the 28-year-old revealed if he hadn’t been called up by Blues coach Leon MacDonald he would probably be working as a builder in Hawke’s Bay for his brother Sam.
“I caught the ball and looked ahead and saw there was no one in front of me,” he told the Herald this week of his try following a TJ Faiane midfield break. “I figured there was someone behind me so I just had to give it my best shot. It didn’t click until after the game when a few people messaged me saying ‘first 2020 Super Rugby try’.
“I was full of adrenaline and happy to dot down. I’m not a big person for scoring tries – I’d rather be the one to get the turnover and someone else score it in the corner.”
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It’s an old-school attitude from a player who has done it the hard way, one who could probably teach his new teammates a bit about resilience.
Born in Timaru and brought up in Ashburton, mid Canterbury, Lamborn left school at 16 and was determined to give rugby a proper crack.
“I knew I had something there,” he said. “I knew I was naturally pretty gifted – a few of my friends and coaches said that. I went up there and gave it a good shot and managed to make the academy. I made the Magpies’ full squad in 2011 or 2012 so I’ve been around for a while. I played a season for the Hurricanes and finished up there when we won it [2016].”
That year Lamborn travelled to the USA where his father, Jack, was born, and played in the MLR professional league. He made his test debut for the States the same year and represented the Eagles at last year’s World Cup in Japan.
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“I always knew that was an option,” Lamborn said of representing the US. “Obviously when I made the Hurricanes I wanted to give the All Blacks a good crack but in the No7 jersey those days was Ardie, who had just made, it, Sam Cane… It was a tough decision to make but once I made it I wanted to give 100 per cent to the States and there was no turning back. I haven’t regretted it at all.”
At the World Cup, Lamborn’s team lost all four matches to England, Argentina, France and Tonga.
“I didn’t enjoy losing so much; I knew we were a much better team than that and it was pretty frustrating to go down, especially when we were leading against France – we could have beaten them – and Tonga in the last game.”
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But the opportunity and occasion – witnessed by mum Sari and wife Abby – made it all worthwhile. His Blues call-up came as a result.
“Just seeing how proud my family was,” he said of his World Cup highlight. “That really made it for me and I knew then that that was the best decision I could make – playing for the US. Even though my old man Jack is an All Blacks supporter, he was also very proud of me.
“I’m grateful Leon and Tom Coventry noticed my form during the World Cup and liked the style I bring. They thought I’d bring a different attitude and personality to change things up here.
“I think the boys were a bit shocked at the start because I’m a bit out there. I guess you could say I’m a bit crazy – I enjoy rugby but I also enjoy the banter with the boys and some weren’t quite used to that but they’ve taken to me with open arms.”
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
Featuring a host of international stars including Dan Carter, Samu Kerevi, Duane Vermuelen, Brodie Retallick, Andy Ellis, Matt Giteau, RG Snyman, Tevita Li and more! Catch up on all the highlights from Round 4 of the Japanese Top League:
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
76 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments