We're thrilled to announce our guest speaker for this years Ipswich Dinner on 4th July as New Zealand Rugby Legend Zinzan Brooke!

Zinzan Valentine Brooke was born in February '65, raised on an Auckland farm scrabbling, scrapping, loving five siblings. That’s the root of his rugby apprenticeship, passing, kicking …drop kicking between farm chores.

Zinzan’s first call up to the All Black squad for the ’87 World Cup wasn’t his first Rodeo.

In his late teens he had to decide between rugby or rodeo – to the retrospective relief of a rugby mad, rodeo fond nation…. He chose rugger!

He was told to make his debut against Argentina in the ’87 World Cup – and lead the Haka.

In Zinzan’s decade at the heart of the greatest sporting collective that is the All Black’s he played with intuitive flair and brutal physicality. Zinny’s career bridged the switch to professionalism. He set the standard to succeed in the professional era. “The most skilled forward in the world” John Rutherford 1993.

Yeah,  he dropped a goal from half way in 1995 semi against England… so what, he also did one against Wales at Wembley and secured a first ever All Black series win with one against The Boks at in Pretoria. 

Zinny skippered Auckland Blues to two Super 12 Championships in ’96 and ’97 ….. “When you are a leader, you shouldn’t be at the front, you should be at the heart of it.

Performance is now measured on stats, Zinny is measured on impact and  was for several years the greatest player in our rugby world. Incisive in defence and attack, brutal, imaginative… the best No8, come meet him on July 4th…. he loves to chat.

To find out more about the dinner and book your place - just click here