Official Brackin Karauria-Henry

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Canty lad feels comfortable in Aussie jumperThe PressAfter signing with the Cronulla Sharks as a 16-year-old in 2006 and leaving Christchurch for Australia for a crack at a lucrative career in league, ...and more »

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/3291024/Canty-lad-feels-comfortable-in-Aussie-jumper/&usg=AFQjCNE0zumpGJyrUUolyqNjYjAfg1siHA

Canty lad feels comfortable in Aussie jumper
By MICHAEL FOX
Last updated 05:00 04/02/2010

The Aussies are renowned for spotting Kiwi rugby talent and luring them across the Tasman – a talented young sevens player from Christchurch is one of the latest.

Brackin Karauria-Henry, 21, now plays rugby for Australia, one of several Kiwis turning out for other countries at the NZI Sevens this weekend in Wellington.

After signing with the Cronulla Sharks as a 16-year-old in 2006 and leaving Christchurch for Australia for a crack at a lucrative career in league, Karauria-Henry said he eventually hankered for a switch back to rugby.

"Things didn't really go my way in rugby league so I thought I'd have a crack and see how I go. It's gone good."

Having played rugby at Christchurch Boys' High School, he said he did not find the change too difficult.

After impressing in a couple of sevens tournaments, his career has flourished.

"Things have started happening. I got a trial and got in the team. It's gone pretty quick."

The second-five eighth is in the Brumbies academy and aiming for a Super 14 contract in 2011, but said he had his sights set on the Commonwealth Games in India later this year. The former Canterbury age-group representative admitted to some nerves ahead of tomorrow when he will run out in front of his parents, uncles and aunts and grandmother, as well as 35,000 other fans crammed into Wellington's Westpac Stadium to watch.

"This is the tournament where I want to play well in front of my family and friends."

Karauria-Henry said the Australian side were confident as they attempted to break a nine-year drought in Wellington.

While he was born in Auckland and grew up in Christchurch, he is proud to represent his adopted home.

He said he was not concerned about playing New Zealand.

 

[SF]

The NZ papers are sure good at talking up their juniors.

I saw him play a couple of games for Southern Districts last year. He's still small, and a bit wasted on the wing... but I think we could have given him another year or two.

 

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Mozzie power emerges

Mozzie power emerges
John Hill
5 Feb 2010

QUESTION: What do you call a Maori playing for Australia in the Wellington leg of the IRB World Sevens series?Answer: A traitor?

'No, a Mozzie,' says Brackin Karauria-Henry's grandmother, Carol Karauria, who lives in Gisborne.

'He may be wearing the Australian colours but I'll still be cheering for my moko,' the proud grandmother said.

She, along with the 21-year-old's father, Barry, and mother, Yolande, will be wearing specially designed T-shirts in support of Brackin.

Brackin was born in Auckland but the family moved to Christchurch, where he played centre for Christchurch Boys' High School first 15. He was in the side who won the first 15s world cup in Japan in 2005.

'After coming back from Japan, he signed a three-year contract with the Cronulla Sharks rugby league club,' Yolande said.

'Because he was only 16 and still at school, he had to go to school in Sydney so my two daughters, Chahne and Ainsley, and I moved to Australia while Barry was posted to Wellington (with the New Zealand Army).

'We're a military family so we're used to moving around.'

While in Australia, Brackin played for the Endeavour Sport High School, helping them win the schoolboy premiership rugby league title.

When his Cronulla Sharks contract expired, Brackin signed for Randwick, one of Australia's most famous rugby union clubs.

But after shattering his left hand in a tackle, which put him out for 10 rounds, he was picked up by the Southern Districts Rebels.

'They really looked after him and he came back to play for the last part of the season,' Yolande said.

Even though Brackin played only the four months of the season, he was picked for the Australian sevens squad, signed for the ACT Brumbies and is now living in Canberra.

Brackin made his debut for the Australian Sevens side in the first leg of the 2010 series in Dubai and scored three tries in his opening match. The green-and-golds went on to win the plate division, beating Argentina 26-12.

'He's doing well for himself but he's not finished yet,' said Yolande, who – like her mum – will be supporting Brackin in Wellington.


Mozzie power emergesGisborne Herald'After coming back from Japan, he signed a three-year contract with the Cronulla Sharks rugby league club,' Yolande said. 'Because he was only 16 and still ...

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=...=15915&usg=AFQjCNH4Kv6-i3DelheH3iUsBrUtvU61Jw

 

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Aussies take youthful approach to Sevens - Ninemsn

Source:http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=...029119&usg=AFQjCNE4AN3oCRhfI5f1Kn4hF-rEb7ZYfQ

Aussies take youthful approach to Sevens
By Daniel Brettig
18:46 AEST Thu Mar 18 2010

A belated emphasis on youth has got Australian rugby expecting much from its sevens youngsters at the Adelaide Oval this week.

Boasting an average age of around 20, the Australian Sevens squad for 2010 has been the subject of heavy investment by the ARU, and has offered improved results so far, most recently a semi-final spot in Las Vegas.

At 21, centre Brackin Karauria-Henry is actually one of the older faces in the squad, but he endorsed the new direction the team was taking under the watchful eye of Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

"This year I think the ARU have put a lot of effort unto us boys just to perform well," Karauria-Henry told AAP.

"They've put a lot of money into us, a lot of training camps, over the last few years they didn't have as many training camps as we had this year, they've prepared us a lot better I think.

"They've put more focus into sevens, especially with Robbie Deans taking that approach to Sevens as a good pathway to Super 14 and the Wallabies.

"I think maybe the last few years they didn't really take that approach and that's probably why they haven't succeeded as well as we have so far this year.

"The approach they've taken is really good, the average age is 19 or 20. Young players are always keen to impress and always jumping out of their skin.

"A lot of the boys here in the team are just playing sevens, but they realise if they play well in sevens they can get a Super 14 contract from there and they've got something to play for."

Karauria-Henry's background is strikingly diverse, having been born and raised in New Zealand before moving, aged 17, to NSW for a stint with the NRL club Cronulla.

Dissatisfied with his efforts to break into the first team, he elected to return to union and has subsequently emerged as one of the nation's better sevens exponents.

He is also something of a mentor to younger members of the sevens team, an odd position for one so young.

"When I first came into the team I was a bit wary of being one of the older ones but they look to me now - I've played a few tournaments," he said.

"There's a lot of young players in the team and I see them in the same boat that I was in rugby league and the things I did back then that didn't work for me I don't want them to do the same here."

Naming New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji as the usual suspects for the trophies on offer in Adelaide this week, Karauria-Henry admitted he had only recently stopped following the fortunes of the All Blacks.

Australia's campaign begins with a fixture against the tiny Pacific island nation of Niue on Friday night.

 

[SF]

Got the first try here for Southern Districts, and has been going well:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDbh2hdwxuA

 

[Shiredad]

Brackin Henry

Just noticed that an ex-Sharkie - Brackin Henry - is overseas, representing Australia in the Rugby7's World Tournament, being held in Edinburgh.

They have just recently beaten Fiji in the Quarter Finals, and NZ in the Semi's, so they're through to the finals!

Looks like he scored himself a couple of pies in the NZ game as well. He's #6 in the video at this site:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/video-aussie-7s-team-beat-nz-in-edinburgh/

 

[snowman]

the only thing i remember about him, is on rl2 world cup edition when you use him, vossy the commentator calls him "BIRD"

 

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Waratahs sign Sevens star Karauria-Henry - Ninemsn

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=...068247&usg=AFQjCNGfiL4PiI6UXfMm2CoBL3qYUyhYXA

Waratahs sign Sevens star Karauria-Henry
16:08 AEST Jun 11 2010

The Waratahs have signed Australian Sevens star Brackin Karauria-Henry on a two-year Super rugby contract.

After joining the Brumbies Academy this season, a spate of injuries saw Karauria-Henry make his Super 14 debut off the bench in front of a crowd of 40,271 at ANZ Stadium.

The following week he earned his first run-on cap against Queensland in Canberra.

However it is on the sevens circuit where he has made his biggest name, finishing the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series with 30 tries to be Australia's leading tryscorer and the sixth-highest tryscorer overall.

New Zealand born Karauria-Henry is a product of Christchurch Boys' High School, coming to Australia to pursue a rugby league career after being brought to Sydney by the Cronulla Sharks.

He crossed codes in 2009.

 

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Karauria-Henry on move to Waratahs - The Australian

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=...585206&usg=AFQjCNENWHV9FBk1mAxzIYylwJzeLDCsqw

Brackin Karauria-Henry on move to Waratahs
Bret Harris
June 11, 2010 5:27PM

AUSTRALIAN sevens star Brackin Karauria-Henry has left the Brumbies to sign a two-year contract with NSW Waratahs in the Super 15.

A winger/centre, Karauria-Henry joined the Brumbies academy this year and a spate of injuries saw him make his Super rugby debut against the Waratahs at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

The New Zealand-born Karauria-Henry was brought to Australia by the Cronulla Sharks and attended Endeavour Sports High in 2006.

Despite progressing through Cronulla's junior representative ranks, Karauria-Henry switched codes in 2009 to play with Sydney club Southern Districts.

 

[snowman]

waratahs must be desperate, they can have him and pom for kane douglas and drew mitchell

 

[Mr Wright]

Berrick Barnes and Rob Horne (Australian centre) for Poms, Corboda, Cuthbo & Tautai

 

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Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=...ar-finds-feet-in-new-code-20100708-102dl.html

Endeavouring to please: schoolboy league star finds feet in new code
DANIEL LEWIS
July 9, 2010

FROM frustration playing rugby league with the Cronulla Sharks to a starring role with Australia's sevens rugby union side, a change of codes has brought nothing but good news for Brackin Karauria-Henry.

He's also been signed to a two-year contract with the NSW Waratahs for 2011 and 2012 and plays for the table-topping Southern Districts in the Sydney club competition.

Tomorrow the Rebels take on second-placed Manly at Manly Oval in round 13 of the Shute Shield and Karauria-Henry will be at outside-centre for Southern Districts in only his fifth club appearance of the year due to his Sevens duties.
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In round two at Southern Districts' Forshaw Park, the Rebels had a tight 35-34 victory against the Marlins and Manly are hungry to turn the tables on their home turf.

Weighing 88 kilos and standing 180 centimetres, Karauria-Henry was born and raised in Christchurch, where he played league and union, loving them equally. He likes to play ball-in-hand and attack what he sees in front of him.

Karauria-Henry is one of only two players among the 22 used by Australian Sevens coach Michael O'Connor to play in each of the eight events on the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series circuit in 2009-10. He quickly adapted to the free-flowing style of Sevens and became Australia's top tryscorer on the circuit with 30.

He returned to union last year with Randwick, but switched mid-season to the local Southern Districts club near his Cronulla home. There, his talent was spotted by O'Connor.

Karauria-Henry hopes to cap his Sevens career with a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October before giving that version of rugby away to concentrate on the 15-man variety with the Waratahs.

''I'm still pretty inexperienced in 15s,'' he said. ''I've just got to keep learning and string a few good games together.''

The Sharks brought Karauria-Henry to Australia in 2006 on a scholarship and he completed year 12 at the Sutherland Shire's Endeavour Sports High, helping the school win the Arrive Alive Cup schoolboy rugby league competition.

He went on to play Jersey Flegg, Toyota Cup and NSW Cup for Cronulla but switched to union last year because ''things weren't really working out for me in league. I was pretty stale and I felt I needed a bit of a change. The change to rugby union has worked out well for me. I'm pretty happy.''

 

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Red tape trips up sevens star

Source:http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=.../09/2977815.htm?site=sport&section=rugbyunion

Red tape trips up Sevens star
Updated August 9, 2010 16:29:00

Gutted rugby Sevens star Brackin Karauria-Henry has blamed "stupid" red tape for costing him a Commonwealth Games berth and hurting Australia's medal chances.

New Zealand born and raised, Karauria-Henry is struggling to understand how he could play the entire world Sevens series for Australia but be prevented from playing in Delhi due to stringent eligibility guidelines.

The former Cronulla NRL back moved from Christchurch to Sydney four years ago but is paying the price for failing to lodge paperwork to prove his permanent residency.

Karauria-Henry was made aware only last week he required proof of residency.

He filled in the forms but the Australian Rugby Union was told there was no point in lodging them as the Games are only two months away.

It is not just a blow for the newly-signed New South Wales centre but also Michael O'Connor's injury-riddled Sevens squad.

Karauria-Henry was Australia's leading try-scorer, with 30, on the International Rugby Board's world Sevens circuit and a leader in the young team which finished third behind Samoa and New Zealand.

"I was unaware of it and the ARU didn't know about it," he said of the more strict Commonwealth Games' eligibility requirement.

"I filled in all my forms last week but I was told on Friday there was not enough time to fast-track it.

"It's stupid. I can't see how I can play the whole IRB series for Australia but then not be eligible for the Commonwealth Games.

"I don't blame anyone, it's one of those things, but it's really disappointing."

The 22-year-old is not the only New Zealand-born player prevented from playing for Australia in Delhi with Queensland-cum-Melbourne half-back Richard Kingi also blocked for the same reason.

O'Connor says Karauria-Henry, one of just two Australians to play all eight of the 2009-10 IRB tournaments, would be sorely missed but hoped Reds youngster Luke Morahan could fill the void at centre.

"It's very disappointing, he's worked hard all year," O'Connor said.

"He's a very influential player, is one of the leaders in our team and sets the standards in training and is very competitive."

Karauria-Henry, who made his Super 14 debut for the Brumbies this year, will continue to assist the Sevens team in a four-day Canberra training camp this week.

O'Connor has bolstered his squad with Super 14 players Pat McCabe, Nick Cummins, Lachie Turner, Pat McCutcheon and Chris Alcock.

Set to finalise his 12-man team on Thursday, he is hoping injured trio Kimami Sitauti, Shaun Foley and Brian Sephania may be cleared to return following surgery.

 

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Karauria-Henry's NZ passport prevents Games place

Karauria-Henry's NZ passport prevents Games place
NZPA
Last updated 11:31 06/10/2010

Brackin Karauria-Henry carries one reminder of his upbringing in New Zealand, and it inadvertently prevented the would-be Wallaby representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games.

Auckland-born and raised in Christchurch, the professional rugby player would have been in the India preparing with the sevens team had Games regulations not decreed he had to be travelling on an Australian passport to represent his adopted home at New Delhi.

Still, Karauria-Henry is far from enjoying an off-season after the end of Sydney club rugby because it turned out what he assumed was a Sunday afternoon call from a Robbie Deans impersonator was actually from the man himself.

Once Karauria-Henry realised the Wallabies coach was genuine, he started coming to terms with his inclusion in the 40-man training squad for the end of year tour to Hong Kong, Britain and Europe.

One of a dozen uncapped players vying for places in the 36-man tour party to be named on October 14, the 22-year-old centre could end up facing some of his former schoolmates at international level if his career maintains its current trajectory.

Educated at Christchurch Boys' High School, Karauria-Henry arrived there the year Daniel Carter graduated.

He played with Colin Slade in the first 15, his only year in the world secondary schools tournament-winning team before switching codes to rugby league.

He was scouted by the Cronulla Sharks, headed for Sydney in 2005 and now considers himself a fair dinkum Aussie, even if mum, dad and his sisters back in Christchurch struggle with the concept.

When Karauria-Henry decided to revert to the 15-man code, his dad Barry implored him to return to Canterbury.

But settled in Sydney with a partner, Karauria-Henry decided to stay put, which has proven to be an astute career move.

He quickly piqued the interest of the national sevens squad selectors and after aligning himself to the Brumbies he played three late-season Super 14 games against the Waratahs, Highlanders and Reds on the wing.

"It was a big achievement to make the sevens, that was my first goal,'' he said.

''Then I was pretty lucky with the number of injuries at the Brumbies."

He is now in Sydney fulltime having signed a two-year deal with the Waratahs.

Karauria-Henry admitted he was shocked to register on Deans' radar and was hopeful of impressing during the Wallabies training camp.

With Australia scheduled to play Munster and Leicester midweek, there could be scope for rookies to gain experience in the ''second'' team, not that Karauria-Henry was looking too far ahead.

''I just want to learn as much as I can,'' he said.

''It's a bit of a surprise to be here, I'll just take it as it comes.''

He will also be taking steps to take out dual citizenship so by the time the next Commonwealth Games rolls around at Glasgow in 2014 he will be available for Australia.

''I'm in the process of getting an Australian passport at the moment so that issue doesn't arise again,'' he said.

''It would have been awesome to be over there and experience it (India).

''I think we're on a bit of a roll and we've got a good chance of hopefully winning a gold medal and beating New Zealand.''

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=...auria-Henrys-NZ-passport-prevents-Games-place