Tom Taylor (rugby union)

Thomas James Taylor (born 11 March 1989) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played as a second five-eighth or first five-eighth for the Crusaders in Super Rugby. and Canterbury in the ITM Cup. He can also play fullback.

He made his debut for the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 2013.

Career
In the 2009, affiliated with the Canterbury ITM side, Taylor was involved in the champion New Zealand Under 20 team along with Zac Guildford

In 2011 Taylor debuted for Canterbury against North Otago. He trained with the Crusaders and was part of the Canterbury squad that went on to win that year's ITM Cup Championship final against Waikato.

In November 2011 he was named in the Crusaders squad for 2012. In his first start, against the Cheetahs in March 2012, Taylor opened the Crusaders scoring with a penalty six minutes in. He had a successful game with the boot and ended up converting the game's final try, for Crusaders to win 28–21. The next week, playing at second five-eighth against the Lions, he kicked two penalties and three conversions and the Crusaders won 23–13. On 14 April he was back at first five-eighth to help the Crusaders end the Stormers unbeaten run. Taylor scored a try, converted it, and kicked eight penalties from eight attempts.

In 2013, Taylor made his debut for the All Blacks, starting ahead of Colin Slade at first five-eighth in the second Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup match against Australia after injuries to Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett and Dan Carter. He kicked four penalty goals and a conversion goal (14 points) to help the All Blacks to a 27–16 win at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.

In March 2015, Taylor announced that he would join French Top 14 Rugby Club Bayonne.

Personal life
In 2010 Taylor was studying towards his Bachelor of Science in geography at the University of Canterbury.

Taylor's relatives include father Warwick, a second five-eighth, who played for Canterbury from 1982 to 1990 and the All Blacks from 1983 to 1988, and uncle Murray Taylor, a first five-eighth who played for the All Blacks in 1979 and 1980.