Bates has gone from strength to strength as a No 8, earning a spot on the All Blacks end-of-year tour to Europe in 2004. Bates, known for his high work rate on the field, predominately plays on the blindside flank or at No 8. An experienced, strong running loose forward he comes into his fifth season with the Chiefs. He enjoyed a successful 2006 Air New Zealand Cup campaign for Waikato, captaining the side to the championship in the inaugural provincial rugby competition. In the middle of 2006, Bates was once again a member of the Junior All Blacks squad. His strong leadership skills and work ethic on and off the field saw Bates being named the Waikato Representative Player of the Year at the province's annual rugby awards ceremony in 2005. In his younger days, Bates played rugby league in the then-Auckland Warriors Under 19 side, and was a top schoolboy athlete in the 800m. New Zealand Representative Teams New Zealand Schools in 1998 New Zealand Under 19 in 1999 New Zealand Under 21 in 2001 All Blacks in 2004 Junior All Blacks in 2005, 2006 Career Notes • Named as the first-ever Junior All Blacks captain in 2005 and played at No 8 in all three matches on the Australian tour. • Captained the Chiefs through the early part of the 2006 Rebel Sport Super 14 season in the absence of Jono Gibbes, and skippered the Probables side in the 2005 All Blacks Trial. • Marked his 100th first-class match in the 2006 Chiefs match against the Cats in Johannesburg. • Captained Waikato for the first six games in 2004 and for all of the 2005 campaign. • Has not missed a game for Waikato in four years.

Player Media:

Bates has gone from strength to strength as a No 8, earning a spot on the All Blacks end-of-year tour to Europe in 2004.

Bates, known for his high work rate on the field, predominately plays on the blindside flank or at No 8. An experienced, strong running loose forward he comes into his fifth season with the Chiefs. He enjoyed a successful 2006 Air New Zealand Cup campaign for Waikato, captaining the side to the championship in the inaugural provincial rugby competition.

In the middle of 2006, Bates was once again a member of the Junior All Blacks squad.

His strong leadership skills and work ethic on and off the field saw Bates being named the Waikato Representative Player of the Year at the province's annual rugby awards ceremony in 2005.

In his younger days, Bates played rugby league in the then-Auckland Warriors Under 19 side, and was a top schoolboy athlete in the 800m.

New Zealand Representative Teams
New Zealand Schools in 1998
New Zealand Under 19 in 1999
New Zealand Under 21 in 2001
All Blacks in 2004
Junior All Blacks in 2005, 2006

Career Notes
• Named as the first-ever Junior All Blacks captain in 2005 and played at No 8 in all three matches on the Australian tour.
• Captained the Chiefs through the early part of the 2006 Rebel Sport Super 14 season in the absence of Jono Gibbes, and skippered the Probables side in the 2005 All Blacks Trial.
• Marked his 100th first-class match in the 2006 Chiefs match against the Cats in Johannesburg.
• Captained Waikato for the first six games in 2004 and for all of the 2005 campaign.
• Has not missed a game for Waikato in four years.

Career Comments:

Test match Record by Year
(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

2004
Nov 13 v Italy at Rome 59-10 (+)

Below figures correct at beginning of the 2006 rugby calendar:
Provincial Caps 70 (8 Auckland, 62 Waikato)
Provincial Points 70 (14t)
Provincial Debut 2000 v Taranaki (Auckland)
Super 14 Caps 46
Super 14 Points 35 (7t)
Super 14 Debut 2002 v Crusaders