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Mike Harris (rugby union)

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Michael Harris
Mike Harris 2018
Date of birth (1988-07-08) 8 July 1988 (age 36)
Place of birthNorth Shore, New Zealand
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight96 kg (212 lb)
SchoolWestlake Boys High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Inside Centre / Fly-half / Fullback
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016−2018 Lyon 45 (158)
2018–2020 Toshiba Brave Lupus 5 (30)
2020– Pau 4 (3)
Correct as of 25 April 2021
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007–2010 North Harbour 33 (255)
2014 Queensland Country 0 (0)
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2014 Reds 44 (268)
2015−2016 Rebels 22 (133)
Correct as of 25 April 2021
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007-2008 New Zealand U20 1 (0)
2012 Australia 10 (55)
Correct as of 25 April 2021

Michael Harris (born 8 July 1988)[2] is a professional rugby union football player for Pau in the Top 14. He has also been capped ten times for Australia. Harris began his career in 2007 with North Harbour in New Zealand's ITM Cup before moving to Australia in 2011. He played for the Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby and then joined French club Lyon for two seasons from late 2016. He moved to Japan for the 2018–19 season.

His main positions are at flyhalf or second five-eighth.[3] He is also a reliable goal kicker. Mike was Head Boy at Westlake Boys High School in 2006.

Club career

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After making his Queensland Reds debut in 2011, Harris was selected to fill the void of flyhalf after fellow Queensland Reds played Quade Cooper had succumbed to injury during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Harris immediately made an impact as he broke the Super Rugby record for most consecutive goals (penalties, conversions etc.) with 24. He also broke John Eales' Queensland and Australian record for most goals in a game with 9 (7 penalties, 2 conversions).[4] He became a viable kicking option for the Reds but suffered injury a few weeks later. In June 2012 he was selected to play his first test match against Scotland.[5] In May 2014 it was announced that Harris would be joining the Melbourne Rebels for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.[6]

On 16 March 2016, Harris travels to France to join with top club Lyon in the Top 14 on a two-year deal from the 2016–17 season.[7] On 4 April 2018, Harris leaves France for Japan to join Toshiba Brave Lupus, in the Top League on a two-year deal from the 2018–19 season.[8]

On 2 July 2020, Harris returns to France with Top 14 rivals Pau on a two-year deal from the 2020-21 season.[9]

International career

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Harris was qualified to represent the Wallabies through his Australian-born grandmother,[5] and was selected at inside centre for the test match on 5 June 2012 against Scotland.[5] He scored 6 points in this game, the only points for Australia in a 9–6 loss to Scotland. Two weeks later he was on the bench in the second test against Wales in Melbourne on 16 June 2012, coming on for an injured Berrick Barnes. He scored the winning goal for the match to secure a 25–23 win for the Wallabies.

After missing selection for the Wallabies at the 2015 World Cup, Harris was named in the 39-man squad for the 2016 international series against England.

Super Rugby statistics

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As of 21 July 2016[10]
Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red
2011 Reds 8 6 2 498 3 5 3 0 34 1 0
2012 Reds 14 14 0 1037 0 22 34 1 149 0 0
2013 Reds 8 4 4 339 0 3 4 0 18 0 0
2014 Reds 14 14 0 1050 3 12 9 1 69 0 0
2015 Rebels 15 15 0 1131 1 20 26 0 123 0 0
2016 Rebels 6 6 0 279 1 1 1 0 10 0 0
Total 66 60 6 4334 8 63 77 2 403 1 0

Notes

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  1. ^ "Mike Harris". rugby.com.au. Australian Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Mike Harris player profile". ESPN Scrum.com.
  3. ^ Horne, Ben (1 August 2012). "Mike Harris wants to tackle All Blacks, SBW". Rugby Heaven. Fairax. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Is Mike Harris rugby's best kicker".
  5. ^ a b c "Deans adds Kiwis to Wallabies to play Scots". 3 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Rabodirect Rebels sign Wallaby Mike Harris".
  7. ^ "Harris joins French club Lyon". Sports24. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Former Wallaby Mike Harris signs with Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus". News.com.au. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Ex-Wallabies flyhalf Mike Harris fills gap at Pau left by Colin Slade and Tom Taylor". News 24. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Player Statistics". its rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
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