26 Facts About Doug Howlett

1.

Douglas Charles Howlett was born on 21 September 1978 and is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player.

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2.

Doug Howlett was primarily a wing, but he sometimes played as a fullback.

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3.

Doug Howlett played for Auckland, and the Highlanders, Hurricanes and Blues in Super Rugby.

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4.

Doug Howlett is of Tongan descent, with roots in the small coastal village of Kolonga.

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5.

Doug Howlett started playing rugby at Auckland Grammar School, where he was a star sprinter, captain of athletics and, during his final year in 1996, Head Prefect.

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6.

Doug Howlett made his first-class debut at the age of 18 for Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup.

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7.

Doug Howlett has played with three Super Rugby teams, briefly with the Otago Highlanders and Wellington Hurricanes and, for the majority of his career in his home city, the Auckland Blues.

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8.

In May 2009, Doug Howlett was named in the Barbarians squad to play England and Australia.

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9.

On 30 August 2007, Doug Howlett signed for Munster, following in the footsteps of another All Black great, Christian Cullen.

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10.

Doug Howlett made his debut for Munster in the Heineken Cup against ASM Clermont Auvergne, notably starting the movement for Lifeimi Mafi's try.

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11.

Doug Howlett scored his first Munster try against Ulster on 22 March 2008.

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12.

Doug Howlett had won his first cup with Munster only five and a half months into his career in the Northern Hemisphere.

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13.

Doug Howlett himself scored a try in the final only for it to be disallowed due to a forward pass from Rua Tipoki.

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14.

Doug Howlett joins Rod Kafer and Brad Thorn in having won major rugby tournaments in both the southern and northern hemispheres, the Super 14 and Heineken Cup respectively.

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15.

Doug Howlett enjoyed his success with the Auckland Blues in the 2003 Super 12 and Munster in 2008.

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16.

Doug Howlett underwent successful knee surgery in late January 2013, and returned to action after the surgery on 2 March 2013.

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17.

On 14 May 2013, it was confirmed that Doug Howlett, after receiving medical advice, would retire from rugby due to a shoulder injury he sustained playing against Glasgow Warriors in March 2013.

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18.

Doug Howlett returned to the province as a corporate ambassador in December 2013.

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19.

Doug Howlett went on to become Munster's head of commercial and marketing, before returning to New Zealand in the autumn of 2019.

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20.

Doug Howlett was a first choice winger in the 2003 World Cup.

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21.

Doug Howlett was selected for the Rugby World Cup squad ahead of Canterbury and Tasman player Rico Gear; however, he was expected to play the first three rounds of the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup.

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22.

Doug Howlett was known as a winger with a high work rate and strong defensive tackling ability.

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23.

Doug Howlett is the brother of former Tongan rugby league international Phil Doug Howlett.

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24.

In May 2019, Doug Howlett announced his decision to leave his role as Munster Rugby's Head of Commercial and Marketing after 6 years to return to New Zealand with his family.

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25.

Doug Howlett was arrested on 9 October 2007 outside Heathrow Airport's Hilton Hotel on suspicion of criminal damage to two cars.

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26.

Doug Howlett was again arrested on 23 December 2010 on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly after his team's Christmas party in Kilkenny city.

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