Jerome Kaino

Having played every game for Auckland in his first year of NPC rugby, Jerome Kaino was picked as a future superstar of the game. He debuted for the All Blacks that same year, playing out of his skin against the Barbarians at Twickenham, a man-of-the-match performance. But by his own admission, it was too much and too soon. Jerome talks openly about a drinking lifestyle and the serious injuries that brought his early All Blacks career to a grinding halt. But through adversity came strength. Seven years later, Jerome played every minute of the All Blacks victorious Rugby World Cup campaign, followed by a lucrative Japanese rugby contract and a remarkable return to the All Blacks squad in 2014/15 to take up the challenge of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.