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However, his career would lose substantial momentum with a shoulder injury suffered during the 2006 preseason that forced him to miss the entire Super 14 campaign and most of the following provincial season. On his return for the
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After injury ruled him out of the 2004 provincial season, he returned in fine form in 2005 in a year that was highlighted by his selection for a match against the touring
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on 29 April. After receiving limited game action for most of the season, he finished the year on a high note with two tries against the Blues on 17 June.
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and began to work on rebuilding his career. With
Southland, he proved to be a reliable performer on the wing, and helped the province to a historic
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After three seasons of consistent (and consistently healthy) play for
Southland, Saunders was again included in the Highlanders squad for the
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in 2002. He made his provincial debut for Otago in 2003 and quickly established himself as a player of substantial promise.
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Saunders' first-class rugby career started with a bang as he debuted for
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in 2000. After three seasons with North Otago, he transferred to the
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Saunders' performances for Otago saw him selected to the
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saw him brought back into the
Highlanders squad for the
463:"Matt Saunders out of Highlanders after father's death"
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283:(born 13 September 1982) is a former New Zealand
359:triumph in 2009. His strong performances in the
562:People educated at St Kevin's College, Oamaru
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557:People educated at St Peter's College, Gore
435:"'Prepare for life after rugby' – Saunders"
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413:. He made his season debut against the
398:Left off the Highlanders squad for the
287:player who played provincial rugby for
18:Matt Saunders (rugby union born 1982)
7:
25:
532:Highlanders (rugby union) players
80:96 kg (15 st 2 lb)
72:1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
297:National Provincial Championship
265:Correct as of 12 March 2017
552:Rugby union players from Oamaru
542:North Otago rugby union players
527:New Zealand rugby union players
475:. 10 March 2011. Archived from
250:Pirates-Old Boys (Invercargill)
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547:Southland rugby union players
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299:. He also represented the
89:St Kevin's College, Oamaru
537:Otago rugby union players
341:British & Irish Lions
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353:2008 Air New Zealand Cup
345:2006 Air New Zealand Cup
128:Provincial / State sides
407:2011 Super Rugby season
365:2011 Super Rugby season
400:2008 Super 14 season
393:2007 Super 14 season
385:2005 Super 12 season
381:2004 Super 12 season
567:Rugby union centres
502:Highlanders Profile
440:The Southland Times
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324:aged only 17 in a
103:Rugby union career
572:Rugby union wings
479:on 1 October 2012
334:Otago Rugby Union
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50:13 September 1982
16:(Redirected from
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328:contest against
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379:squad for the
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443:. 2 June 2010
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281:Matt Saunders
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214:2004–08, 2011
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95:Occupation(s)
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64:, New Zealand
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52:(age 41)
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40:Date of birth
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34:Matt Saunders
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481:. Retrieved
477:the original
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445:. Retrieved
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361:2010 ITM Cup
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29:Rugby player
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517:1982 births
377:Highlanders
371:Super Rugby
322:North Otago
305:Super Rugby
301:Highlanders
285:rugby union
258:Southland B
218:Highlanders
187:Super Rugby
113:Position(s)
511:Categories
483:22 October
447:22 October
421:References
46:1982-09-13
349:Southland
289:Southland
175:Southland
171:2008–2012
351:for the
208:(Points)
149:(Points)
330:Waikato
303:in the
295:in the
155:2003–07
468:3 News
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122:Centre
85:School
77:Weight
69:Height
62:Oamaru
415:Blues
293:Otago
236:Years
193:Years
159:Otago
134:Years
485:2011
473:NZPA
449:2011
255:2016
247:2016
241:Team
225:(50)
203:Apps
198:Team
182:(25)
166:(65)
144:Apps
139:Team
118:Wing
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