Tyler Bleyendaal

{{Expand section|date=April 2021}}

{{Expand section|date=April 2021}}

Bleyendaal made his debut for the {{Rut|Crusaders}} in 2012 against the {{Rut|Blues}} at Eden Park in round 1. He was a key player in the game, scoring 14 points to help the Crusaders to a 19–18 win.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021|reason=Source?}}

On 11 May 2014, it was announced that Bleyendaal will join Irish province Munster on a three-year contract starting from 1 November 2014.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/2014/05/11/bleyendaal-commits-to-munster-2/|title=Bleyendaal Commits To Munster|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=11 November 2014}} Due to a neck injury, Bleyendaal didn't arrive in Munster until January 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/munster-rugby/tyler-bleyendaal-set-for-munster-arrival-this-weekend-30922218.html|title=Tyler Bleyendaal set for Munster arrival this weekend|date=20 January 2015|work=Irish Independent|access-date=25 January 2015}}

Bleyendaal made his return from the injury on 29 April 2015, starting for Munster A in their friendly against Ulster Ravens and completing 60 minutes.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/report_nostats/munster-a-claim-series-win-over-ravens/|title=Munster A Claim Series Win Over Ravens|date=29 April 2015|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=30 April 2015}} He made his full debut for Munster on 5 September 2015, coming off the bench against Benetton.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/report/shaky-start-for-munster/|title=Shaky Start For Munster|date=6 September 2015|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=6 September 2015}} In January 2016, Bleyendaal was ruled out for 12 weeks with a quadriceps tendon injury.{{cite web|url=http://www.planetrugby.com/news/bleyendaal-out-for-12-weeks/|title=Bleyendaal out for 12 weeks|date=19 January 2016|work=Planet Rugby|access-date=20 January 2016}}

On 22 October 2016, Bleyendaal scored 16 points, including a try, and won the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 38–17 win against Glasgow Warriors in Round 2 of the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup, a match that was his European debut for the province.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/report/munster-do-foley-proud-with-immense-display/|title=Munster Do Foley Proud With Immense Display|date=22 October 2016|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=22 October 2016}} On 10 December 2016, Bleyendaal scored 18 points off the tee in Munster's 38–0 win against Leicester Tigers.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/report/magnificent-munster-tame-tigers-in-thomond/|title=Magnificent Munster Tame Tigers In Thomond|date=10 December 2016|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=10 December 2016}} On 24 January 2017, it was announced that Bleyendaal had signed a contract extension.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/2017/01/24/munster-confirm-latest-signings/|title=Munster Confirm Latest Signings|date=24 January 2017|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=24 January 2017}}

On 3 February 2017, Bleyendaal captained Munster for the first time, leading the side in the 2016–17 Pro12 fixture against Edinburgh.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/report/munster-grind-out-win-in-edinburgh-2/|title=Munster Grind Out Win In Edinburgh|date=3 February 2017|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=4 February 2017}} On 1 April 2017, Bleyendaal scored 21 points off the kicking tee in Munster's 41–16 Champions Cup quarter-final win against Toulouse.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/report/munster-back-in-champions-cup-semi-finals/|title=Munster Back In Champions Cup Semi Finals|date=1 April 2017|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=2 April 2017}} On 4 May 2017, it was announced that Bleyendaal had won the 2016–17 Munster Rugby Senior Player of the Year award, having been nominated by his teammates alongside John Ryan and Niall Scannell.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/2017/04/25/munster-player-of-the-year-nominees-announced/|title=Munster Player Of The Year Nominees Announced|date=25 April 2017|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=25 April 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/2017/05/04/bleyendaal-is-named-munster-player-of-the-year/|title=Bleyendaal Is Named Munster Player Of The Year|date=4 May 2017|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=4 May 2017}} He was also named in the 2016–17 Pro12 Dream Team.{{cite news|url=http://munsterrugby.ie/2017/05/05/6-munster-players-included-in-pro12-dream-team/|title=6 Munster Players Included In PRO12 Dream Team|date=5 May 2017|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=5 May 2017}}

On 17 February 2018, Bleyendaal made his return from a neck injury that had prevented him from playing since Munster's Champions Cup game against Castres in October 2017, doing so when he came off the bench to replace Ian Keatley against Cardiff Blues in the 2017–18 Pro14 and kicking a late penalty to earn his side a losing bonus-point.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/preview/odonoghue-captains-munster-first-time-cardiff-blues-pro14/|title=O'Donoghue To Captain Munster For The First Time|date=16 February 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=18 February 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/losing-bonus-point-munster-cardiff/|title=Losing Bonus-Point For Munster In Cardiff|date=17 February 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=18 February 2018}} However, ongoing symptoms of his neck injury required surgery, ruling Bleyendaal out for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/2018/03/19/squad-update-163/|title=Squad Update|date=19 March 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=19 March 2018}}

Bleyendaal made his return to training for Munster in September 2018{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/2018/09/17/squad-update-169/|title=Squad Update|date=17 September 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=29 September 2018}} and made his return to playing off the bench for Munster A on 12 October 2018, playing 30 minutes.{{cite news|url=http://www.the42.ie/gerbrandt-grobler-munster-gloucester-4288144-Oct2018/|title=Grobler set for Thomond Park return as important part of Gloucester pack|date=16 October 2018|work=The42|access-date=16 October 2018}} Bleyendaal made his first senior Munster appearance since February 2018 in the provinces 2018–19 Pro14 fixture against Cheetahs, with Bleyendaal starting at inside centre and captaining the side to a 30–26 away victory.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-down-cheetahs/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Down Cheetahs In Thriller|date=4 November 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=4 November 2018}} He signed a contract extension with Munster in February 2019, a deal that will see Bleyendaal remain with the province until at least June 2021.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/2019/02/20/contract-update-five-players-sign-extensions/|title=Contract Update {{!}} Five Players Put Pen To Paper|date=20 February 2019|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=20 February 2019}} Bleyendaal earned his 50th cap for Munster in their 31–12 win against Zebre on 23 March 2019.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/report-bonus-point-win-for-munster-over-zebre/|title=Report {{!}} Bonus-Point Win For Munster Over Zebre|date=23 March 2019|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=24 March 2019}}

Bleyendaal was forced to retire from rugby with immediate effect in May 2020 due to a persistent neck injury, which was sustained while he was playing in New Zealand and recurred on multiple occasions during his time with Munster.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/tyler-bleyendaal-retiring-munster-5103726-May2020/|title=Munster's Tyler Bleyendaal has retired from professional rugby|date=20 May 2020|work=The42|access-date=20 May 2020}}

Bleyendaal captained New Zealand Under-20 to victory in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship.{{cite news|url=http://www.rugby-talk.com/2010/06/new-zealand-crowned-jwc-2010-champions/|title=New Zealand crowned IRB JWC 2010 Champions|date=22 June 2010|work=Rugby Talk|access-date=8 September 2017}} He qualified for Ireland in January 2018 under World Rugby's residence rules, and as such, Bleyendaal was called up as a non-playing guest to the Ireland international camp in August 2017.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/tyler-bleyendaal-hoping-for-rub-of-the-green-457983.html|title=Tyler Bleyendaal hoping for rub of the green|date=30 August 2017|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=2 December 2017}}

Following his retirement due to injury, Bleyendaal returned to New Zealand and joined the {{Rut|Hurricanes}} coaching setup, where former Munster player Jason Holland is head coach, in December 2020.

;New Zealand

• World Rugby Under 20 Championship
• Winner (1): 2010

;Individual

• Munster Rugby Player of the Year
• Winner (1): 2017

{{Reflist}}

• [https://munsterrugby.ie/player?PlayGuid=TB712239 Munster Profile]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130207235409/http://crusaders.co.nz/the-team/tyler-bleyendaal Crusaders Profile]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140118112317/http://www.canterburyrugby.co.nz/the-team/tyler-bleyendaal Canterbury Profile]
• [https://www.pro14.rugby/clubs/munster/tyler-bleyendaal Pro14 Profile]
• {{EPCR profile|TB712239}}

{{Munster Rugby captains|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bleyendaal, Tyler}}

Category:Living people

Category:1990 births

Category:People educated at Christchurch Boys' High School

Category:Rugby union players from Christchurch

Category:New Zealand rugby union players

Category:Crusaders (rugby union) players

Category:Canterbury rugby union players

Category:Munster Rugby players

Category:Munster Rugby captains

Category:New Zealand rugby union coaches

Category:Rugby union fly-halves

Category:Rugby union centres

Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Ireland