Aayden Clarke

{{Short description|New Zealand rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2017}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Aayden Clarke

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|08|11|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Wairoa, New Zealand

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{convert|1.87|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|95|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

| school = Wairoa College

| university = Massey University

| relatives =

| occupation = Regional Personal Development Manager
(Pacific Rugby Players)

| ru_position = First five-eighth

| repyears1 =

| repteam1 = New Zealand Rugby Schools

| amatteam1 = Napier Pirates

| years1 = 2009–10

| clubs1 = Kintetsu Liners

| points1 =

| apps1 = 46

| super1 =

| superyears1 =

| ru_currentclub = Linwood

| province1 = Hawkes Bay

| province2 = Rugby Football Union

| provinceyears1 = 2003–09

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| provinceapps1 = 46

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}}

Aayden Clarke (born 11 August 1981) is a former New Zealand rugby union player{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/sport/rugby-union/6844313/Magpie-Clarke-on-trial-to-stand-in-for-Cruden|title=Magpie Clarke on trial to stand in for Cruden|last=Lampp|first=Peter|date=2 May 2012|work=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=19 March 2017|language=English}} who notably played for Hawke's Bay Magpies{{Cite web|url=http://www.mitre10cup.co.nz/News/4620/waikato-overcomes-strong-magpie-challenge|title=Waikato overcomes strong Magpie challenge|website=Mitre10 Cup|language=en|access-date=19 March 2017}} in the National Provincial Championship. He also had stints for Prato Cavalieri in Italy and the Kintetsu Liners in Japan.{{Cite news|url=http://en.rugby-japan.jp/schedule/detail/4520/|title=リーグ戦 第13節 KINTETSU LINERS vs KUBOTA SPEARS Results|work=Japan Rugby Football Union|access-date=19 March 2017|language=en}} His position of choice was first five-eighth and goal kicker.

Post rugby career Clarke founded and online sports clothing company, Plussix4 (later renamed Kinetik) that specialised in compression and base layer clothing for athletes. This brand traded globally while based out of New Zealand. Clarke sold the company in 2015.

Clarke began a management career in Tertiary education at Eastern Institute of Technology once retiring from rugby in 2012 at the age of 31. His role management role focused on Trades and Technology.

Clarke had an involvement during his rugby playing career with the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) as a player rep and then returned later in a part-time Pole as Personal Development Manager for his old team the Hawkes Bay Magpies in 2015.

He is a current board member of Sport Hawke's Bay{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11720031|title=Former Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby player Aayden Clarke makes the grade for Sport HB role|date=1 October 2016|work=New Zealand Herald|access-date=19 March 2017|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}} and an active contributor to Rangatahi and economic development groups in Ngati Kahungunu Iwi.