{{Short description|New Zealand rugby union player (born 1984)}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Craig Clare | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Craig Denis Clare | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|08|19|df=y}} | birth_place = Palmerston North, New Zealand | height = {{convert|182|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|92|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}} | school = Palmerston North Boys High School | university = | relatives = | occupation = | spouse = | position = Fullback, Centre, Wing | currentclub = Wanganui | allblackno = | allblackid = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2003–2012 | clubs1 = Manawatu | apps1 = 44 | points1 = 188 | years2 = 2005–2006 | clubs2 = Otago | apps2 = 17 | points2 = 25 | years3 = 2007 | clubs3 = Highlanders | apps3 = 4 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2009–2010 | clubs4 = Viadana | apps4 = 13 | points4 = 10 | years5 = 2013–2014 | clubs5 = Krasny Yar | apps5 = 22 | points5 = 100 | years6 = 2015 | clubs6 = Bay of Plenty | apps6 = 8 | points6 = 0 | years7 = 2016– | clubs7 = Wanganui | apps7 = 28 | points7 = 267 | repyears1 = 2005 | repteam1 = New Zealand U21 | repcaps1 = 1 | reppoints1 = 0 | repyears2 = 2017–2019 | repteam2 = Heartland XV | repcaps2 = 4 | reppoints2 = 20 | clubupdate = 7 June 2020 | repupdate = 7 June 2020 }}
'''Craig Clare''' (born 19 August 1984) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays for Wanganui in the Heartland Championship. He also played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, before a broken leg stalled his career and caused a long injury layoff.
==Playing career==
===New Zealand===
Clare made his debut for Manawatu in 2003, and spent two seasons with the province before transferring to Otago in 2005 in the hopes of earning a Super Rugby contract with the Highlanders.
After a strong 2006, Clare was included in the Highlanders squad for the 2007 Super 14 season. Aged only 22, his Super Rugby career was off to a highly promising start as he started four of the team's first five games of the season. However, his career came to a crashing halt on 2 March, 2007 in a game against the Blues when he suffered a compound fracture to his leg.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-22 |title='I'm pretty happy. I've done all I can': Craig Clare calls it quits |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/sport/whanganui-rugby-no-more-quick-goodbyes-for-craig-clare/HLV53RHOHBMMZWDRAX3KXKNJDA/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Clare's leg injury forced a two-year layoff from the sport, and he didn't play again until 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boost for Turbos as Craig Clare signs |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/3573090/Boost-for-Turbos-as-Craig-Clare-signs |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}}</ref>
After a stint in Italy, Clare returned to New Zealand in 2010 and signed back with Manawatu.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/3573090/Boost-for-Turbos-as-Craig-Clare-signs|title=Boost for Turbos as Craig Clare signs|last=Lampp|first=Peter|date=2010-04-13|newspaper=Stuff |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref> He proceeded to start all 13 games of the 2010 season for the Turbos, primarily at his preferred position of fullback.
Clare signed for Bay of Plenty in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11479980|title=Rugby: Steamers hope they have winning mix|last=Herald|first=New Zealand|website=m.nzherald.co.nz|access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/70371388/craig-clare-selected-in-the-bay-of-plenty-steamers-squad|title=Clare turns up in BOP squad|website=Stuff |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
He joined Heartland Championship (2nd tier) team Steelform Wanganui in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=Highlanders spice for Heartland|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/midweek/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503658&objectid=11657100|accessdate=15 August 2017|newspaper=Wanganui Midweek|publisher=The New Zealand Herald |date=15 June 2016}}</ref>
===Europe===
After a long injury layoff, Clare returned to high level rugby in 2009, signing with Rugby Viadana of the Italian Super 10 (now Top12). He enjoyed a solid season in Italy, but fell victim to import restrictions when the club joined the Celtic League as Aironi.<ref name="Stuff.co.nz_3573090">{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/3573090/Boost-for-Turbos-as-Clare-signs |title=Boost for Turbos as Craig Clare signs |author=Lampp, Peter |date=13 April 2010 |work=Manawatu Standard |accessdate=26 September 2011}}</ref>
Clare spent the 2010–11 season with Spanish side Bera Bera RT before returning to Manawatu again for the 2011 provincial campaign in New Zealand.
In 2013 he signed with Russian club Krasny Yar on a 6-month contract.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/sport/8837963/Clare-in-Siberia-on-lucrative-contract|title=Clare in Siberia on 'lucrative contract'|last=Lampp|first=Peter|date=2013-06-25|newspaper=Stuff |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clare, Craig}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:Rugby union players from Palmerston North Category:New Zealand rugby union players Category:Manawatu rugby union players Category:Otago rugby union players Category:Bay of Plenty rugby union players Category:Highlanders (rugby union) players Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Italy Category:Rugby Viadana players Category:Rugby union centres Category:Krasny Yar Krasnoyarsk players Category:Expatriate rugby union players in Russia Category:People educated at Palmerston North Boys' High School Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Spain