Biography
Justin Warren Marshall MNZM, born on August 5, 1973, in Gore, New Zealand, is a former professional rugby union player best known for his role as a scrum-half for the New Zealand All Blacks. Standing at 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) and weighing 95 kg (209 lb), he was known for his toughness, leadership, and game intelligence. Marshall was educated at Gore High School and began his rugby career with the Southland Stags before moving to Canterbury and eventually making his mark on the international stage. After retiring from professional rugby, he transitioned into a successful broadcasting career and is currently a commentator for Sky Sports New Zealand.
Teams by Year (Chronological List)
- 1991 – Southland U18
- 1992–1994 – Southland Stags
- 1992 – New Zealand U19
- 1993–1994 – New Zealand Colts
- 1993 – New Zealand Divisional XV
- 1994 – New Zealand Development Team
- 1995–2004 – Canterbury RFU
- 1996–2005 – Canterbury Crusaders (Super Rugby)
- 1996 – Harlequins (short stint)
- 1996–2005 – New Zealand All Blacks
- 2005–2006 – Leeds Tykes (England)
- 2006–2008 – Ospreys (Wales)
- 2008–2009 – Montpellier (France)
- 2009–2010 – Saracens (England)
- 2013 – Wakatipu (amateur comeback)
Other representative teams:
- New Zealand A, New Zealand Barbarians, New Zealand Trials, Classic All Blacks, World XV, Barbarians FC, French Barbarians
International Caps and World Cups Played
- International Appearances for the All Blacks: 81 tests (1995–2005)
- Test Points Scored: 140 (including a record 24 tries for an All Blacks scrum-half)
- Rugby World Cups:
- 1999 Rugby World Cup – Fourth Place
- 2003 Rugby World Cup – Third Place (Bronze)
Highlights of His Rugby Career
- Made his All Blacks debut at age 22 in 1995 against France
- Appointed All Blacks captain in 1997, becoming the 54th test captain
- Played a key role in five Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005)
- Earned 81 test caps and led New Zealand in several historic victories
- Appointed Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2005 for services to rugby
- Played professionally in four countries: New Zealand, England, Wales, and France
- Named Crusaders Player of the Year (2005) and inducted into the Crusaders Hall of Fame (2023)
Personal Life
Justin Marshall is part of a family with strong rugby connections; his uncles Jack Taylor and Lloyd Ashby also played rugby at high levels, and his cousin Daryl Gibson is a former All Black. After retiring from international rugby in 2005, Marshall moved abroad to continue his club career before ultimately returning to New Zealand. He has since become a respected rugby commentator and pundit, appearing regularly on Sky Sports New Zealand. Marshall briefly came out of retirement in 2013 to play for the Wakatipu club, showing his enduring passion for the game.