Brendan Laney
{{BLP sources|date=October 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Brendan Chainsaw Laney
| image =
| birth_name = Brendan James Laney
| birth_place = Invercargill, New Zealand
| allblackid =
| allblackno =
| height =
| weight =
| ru_position =flyhalf, centre, fullback
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 =
| repyears1 = 1993
| repteam1 = NZ U21
| repcaps1= 3
| reppoints1 = 25
| ru_ntupdate1 =
| ru_amupdate =
| repyears2 = 2001-04
| repteam2 = Scotland
| repcaps2 = 20
| reppoints2 = 141
| ru_ntupdate2 =
| super1 = Highlanders
| superapps1 = 44
| superpoints1 = 62
| superyears1 = 1997-01
| super14update =
| ru_province1 = South Canterbury
| ru_provinceyears1 = 1991-94
| ru_provinceapps1 = 41
| ru_provincepoints1 = 216
| ru_provinceupdate1 =
| ru_province2 = Otago
| ru_provinceyears2 = 1995-01
| ru_provinceapps2 = 82
| ru_provincepoints2 = 534
| ru_provinceupdate2 =
| years1 = 2001-05
| clubs1 = Edinburgh
| apps1 = 76
| points1 = 409
| occupation =
| school = Timaru Boys' High School
| URL =
| birth_date={{Birth date and age|1973|11|16|df=yes}}
}}
Brendan James Laney, (born 16 November 1973 in Invercargill, New Zealand) is a former professional rugby union player who represented Scotland as one of the original 'kilted Kiwis'. Nicknamed "Chainsaw" for the way he cut through defences, he was also a good goal kicker. From South Canterbury in New Zealand, he began his professional rugby career at full back for the Highlanders in the Super 12. He played for Yamaha Jubilo in Japan at the end of his career.
Scotland
He was controversially rushed straight into the Scottish national team by the then national coach, Ian McGeechan just two days after he arrived from New Zealand. This annoyed many ex-Scottish internationals, particularly Gavin Hastings who voiced his feelings publicly, and this was hard for Laney who had hero-worshipped Hastings as a child.{{cite news |last=Wildman |first=Rob |date=2001-11-22 |title=McGeechan under fire over Laney selection |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/newzealand/3017366/McGeechan-under-fire-over-Laney-selection.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |access-date=2015-06-08}}
After the initial controversy died down, however, he became a popular figure with teammates and fans, through his personality and leadership. He also made his mark with Scotland, setting a new record of 24 points in a Six Nations game, and went on to equal Gavin Hastings’ record of scoring 100 points in just nine Test matches. Perhaps most significantly, he contributed 11 points in the 21-6 defeat of the Springboks at Murrayfield in 2002, Scotland’s first win over one of the tri-nations teams in 20 years. His Scotland career was not without disappointment. After heavy criticism, Laney was left out of the Six Nations fixture against Ireland due to the "psychological effect of an injury"{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} and was not to be seen in a Scotland jersey again.
Edinburgh Rugby
Japan
Laney left Edinburgh for Yamaha Jubilo in March 2005.
After rugby
Laney was a rugby commentator for SKY Sport (New Zealand), but now manages a sports and rugby clothing company in Christchurch.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20040826073112/http://www.scottishrugby.org/proteam/edinburgh/squad.cfm?&action=details&playerid=65 Brendan Laney on Edinburgh Rugby website]
- [http://members.tripod.com/~nz_sports/super12/super12_squad_laney.html Brendan Laney interviewed in 1999]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050316160039/http://www.scottishrugby.org/proteam/edinburgh/news.cfm?action=newsstory&newsid=14127 Brendan Laney joins Yamaha]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061010223433/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=302672005 Inspired Laney turns on the style] - The Scotsman, 21 March 2005
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laney, Brendan}}
Category:New Zealand rugby union players
Category:Rugby union fly-halves
Category:South Canterbury rugby union players
Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Scotland
Category:Highlanders (rugby union) players
Category:Otago rugby union players
Category:Shizuoka Blue Revs players
Category:Edinburgh Rugby players
Category:Rugby union players from Invercargill
Category:New Zealand people of Scottish descent
Category:Scotland international rugby union players
Category:Scottish rugby union players
Category:People educated at Timaru Boys' High School
Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Japan