Pari Pari Parkinson
Full namePari Pari Matua Parkinson
Date of birth (1996-09-12) 12 September 1996
Place of birthWhakatāne, New Zealand
Height204 cm (6 ft 8 in)
Weight119 kg (262 lb; 18 st 10 lb)
SchoolSt. Kentigern College
Notable relative(s)Rupena Parkinson (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Current team Tasman, Highlanders
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016– Tasman 44 (5)
2018– Highlanders 36 (10)
Correct as of 24 September 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2021 Māori All Blacks 6 (0)
Correct as of 24 September 2023

Pari Pari Matua Parkinson (born 12 September 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC and the Highlanders in Super Rugby.[1][2] His position of choice is Lock.

School and domestic rugby career

Parkinson was educated at Saint Kentigern College in Auckland, before relocating to Nelson to join the Crusaders Academy and play for club team Stoke. He had an early taste of Super Rugby when he played four minutes for the Crusaders top side in a practice match against the Highlanders in Oamaru in 2016, at 19 years of age. Parkinson joined the Tasman Mako wider training group in 2016, having previously represented the New Zealand Barbarians Schools side. He made two appearances for Tasman in the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup and was named in their squad for the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup.[3]

Parkinson’s hard working attitude earned him a Super Rugby contract with the Highlanders for the 2018 season, debuting against the Crusaders towards the end of the season.

Parkinson was part of the Tasman team that won the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup for the first time.[4]

In 2020, Parkinson established himself as first choice lock for the Highlanders, during the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, drawing praise for his performances and work rate.[5]

Parkinson missed the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup with injury as the Mako went on to win their second premiership title in a row.

Parkinson played a key role for the Highlanders during the 2021 Super Rugby season as the side made the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final where they lost 23-15 to the Blues.

In Round 10 of the 2021 Bunnings NPC Parkinson suffered yet another injury while playing for Tasman against Wellington, ruling him out for the entire 2022 season. The Mako went on to make the premiership final before losing 23–20 to Waikato.

Māori All Blacks

In 2018, Parkinson was selected for the Māori All Blacks tour of the US, Chile and Brazil, thus following in the footsteps of his uncle Matua Parkinson, who played for the side and also captained the New Zealand Sevens team. During the tour, he started all three games at 5 in what was a clean sweep, however, he was yellow carded in the match against the USA for a body slam on Eagles number 9 Shaun Davies.[6]

Parkinson represents his iwi Te Whānau-ā-Apanui,[7] from the eastern Bay of Plenty and East Coast regions of New Zealand's North Island.

About his involvement in the Māori All Blacks, Parkinson said: "It was the icing on the cake of a pretty awesome Mitre 10 season" [8] He also cited Chile as his favourite destination on the tour, because of the weather, the people and the training facilities, while also saying to be proud to be contributing to growing the sport around the world.

Parkinson was named in the Māori All Blacks squad again in 2021 after missing out on the 2020 squad due to injury.

Style of play

From the position of lock, Parkinson stands out in the lineout and for his work around the park, using his big frame to carry the ball into defenders and setting up teammates with his offloads. His dimensions made his Highlanders captain Ash Dixon label him as a "baby giraffe".[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Pari Pari Parkinson". thehighlanders.co.nz. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  2. ↑ "Pari Pari Parkinson". www.itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  3. ↑ "Pari Pari Parkinson". allblacks.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "Pari Pari Parkinson". mako.nz. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Super Rugby Aotearoa: Highlanders urge Pari Pari Parkinson to back up good start". Stuff. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "WATCH: New Zealand lock binned for massive body slam on USA player". Ruck. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  7. ↑ "Whānau Parkinson legacy continues with Māori ABs". Māori Television. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  8. ↑ "Pari Pari Parkinson and Josh Ioane Interview". YouTube.
  9. ↑ "Super Rugby: Highlanders back 'baby giraffe' Pari Pari Parkinson to be a force". Stuff. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
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