All Blacks great Zinzan Brooke inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame
Brooke and former Springboks first five-eighth Joel Stransky were honoured at a special dinner in Cape Town ahead of the second Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry between the All Blacks and South Africa.
The pair are the first of seven players who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2026.
One of the most skilful forwards of his generation, Brooke played 58 Tests for the All Blacks during a 12-year international career and represented New Zealand 100 times in total.
He was part of the All Blacks side that won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 and appeared at three Rugby World Cups, scoring 17 Test tries, which was a record for a forward at the time.
Brooke became renowned for combining the physicality of a No.8 with an exceptional kicking and passing game.
Among his most memorable moments was his long-range drop goal against England in the 1995 Rugby World Cup semifinal, before he landed another famous drop goal against South Africa in Pretoria a year later as the All Blacks secured their first Test series victory on South African soil.
WATCH: Jonah Lomu and Zinzan Brooke star as the All Blacks take on England in the 1995 Rugby World Cup semi-final.
Brooke also represented the Māori All Blacks 22 times and enjoyed a hugely successful provincial career with Auckland, playing 140 matches and scoring 94 tries. As captain of the Blues, he helped lead the side to back-to-back Super 12 titles in 1996 and 1997.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said Brooke had changed perceptions of what was possible for a forward through his skill and imagination.
Stransky, meanwhile, will forever be associated with the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, when he scored all 15 of South Africa’s points against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, including the decisive extra-time drop goal.
Brooke and Stransky also faced each other during the All Blacks’ historic 1996 series victory in South Africa.
The remaining five members of the World Rugby Hall of Fame class of 2026 will be announced on September 7.
WATCH: Go behind the scenes of the All Blacks victory over the Springboks in the opening Test of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry
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