Liam Coltman

{{Short description|New Zealand rugby union player (born 1990)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2013}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Liam Coltman | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Liam James Coltman | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|01|25|df=y}} | birth_place = [[New Plymouth, New Zealand|New Plymouth]], New Zealand | height = {{convert|185|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|109|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}} | school = [[Francis Douglas Memorial College]] | university = | relatives = | occupation = | spouse = | position = [[Hooker (rugby union)|Hooker]] | currentclub = [[Otago (National Provincial Championship)|Otago]] | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2010–2022 2024– | clubs1 = [[Otago (National Provincial Championship)|Otago]] | apps1 = 101 | points1 = 55 | years2 = 2013–2022 | clubs2 = [[Highlanders (rugby union)|Highlanders]] | apps2 = 138 | points2 = 40 | years3 = 2022–2024 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Lyon}} | apps3 = 46 | points3 = 20 | years4 = 2025 | clubs4 = [[Utah Warriors]] | apps4 = 16 | points4 = 50 | years5 = 2026 | clubs5 = [[Canon Eagles]] | apps5 = 10 | points5 = 15 | repyears1 = 2010 | repteam1 = [[New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team|New Zealand U20]] | repcaps1 = 5 | reppoints1 = 5 | repyears2 = 2016–2019 | repteam2 = [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] | repcaps2 = 8 | reppoints2 = 0 | repyears3 = 2020 | repteam3 = [[South Island rugby union team|South Island]] | repcaps3 = 1 | reppoints3 = 0 | clubupdate = 5 April 2023 | repupdate = 5 June 2022 }}

'''Liam James Coltman''' (born 25 January 1990) is a New Zealand [[rugby union]] player who plays as a [[Hooker (rugby union)|hooker]] for {{rut|Lyon}} in Frances's domestic competition [[Top 14]].<ref name="Liam Coltman Otago Player Profile">{{cite news | url=http://www.orfu.co.nz/otago/player/liam-coltman/ | title=Liam Coltman Otago Player Profile | work=Otago Rugby | accessdate=11 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="Liam Coltman itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics">{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_19607.html | title=Liam Coltman itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics | work=itsrugby.co.uk | accessdate=11 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="Liam Coltman Highlanders Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://thehighlanders.co.nz/our-team/player-profiles/93-liam-coltman | title=Liam Coltman Highlanders Player Profile | work=Highlanders Rugby | accessdate=10 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="Highlanders 2017 Squad Guide">{{cite web | url=http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Highlanders-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | title=Highlanders 2017 Squad Guide | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=11 January 2017 | archive-date=7 March 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307124831/http://files.allblacks.com/comms/2016-ISR/2017_ISR_Squad_Naming_Highlanders-PUBLISHED-01.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Coltman has also previously captained Otago in the NPC, and has played eight tests for the [[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Blacks]], New Zealand's international rugby team, since his debut in 2016.

==Early career==

Born and raised in New Plymouth on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island, Coltman was educated at [[Francis Douglas Memorial College]] in his hometown, where he played first XV rugby. Coltman's All Black teammate [[Beauden Barrett]] was also his teammate in their first XV. During his high school years, he represented his local province, {{rut|Taranaki}} at under-16 and under-18 level.

After graduating high school, he moved south to [[Dunedin]] to attend the [[University of Otago]] and while there he began playing for Alhambra Union in Dunedin's Premier club rugby competition as well as turning out for {{rut|Otago}}'s under-18, under-19 and academy sides.<ref name="Coltman in Otago squad">{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/sport/3968060/Coltman-in-Otago-squad |title=Coltman in Otago squad |author=Hills, Murray |date=29 July 2010 | work=[[Taranaki Daily News]] | publisher=Fairfax |accessdate=14 January 2017}}</ref>

==Senior career==

Coltman first played provincial rugby for Otago during the [[2010 ITM Cup]], debuting in a match away to {{rut|Counties Manukau}} and making six appearances during what was a dismal year for the Razorbacks in which they finished 14th and last on the log to consign themselves to the Championship division in the newly formatted [[2011 ITM Cup]].

Aged just 21 in 2011, he began to establish himself as Otago's first choice in the number 2 jersey, playing in all 10 regular season games, including 6 starts as the men from Dunedin finished 3rd in the Championship, just missing out on the play off spots as New Zealand's domestic season was cut short to accommodate the [[2011 Rugby World Cup]] which was taking place in the country.

Otago finished 2nd on the Championship log in both [[2012 ITM Cup|2012]] and [[2013 ITM Cup|2013]] and were defeated in the final by {{rut|Counties Manukau}} in 2012 before going down to {{rut|Hawke's Bay}} in the semi-finals the following year. Coltman played 22 of the Razorbacks' 23 games across the 2 seasons and this included 18 starts.

[[2014 ITM Cup|2014]] was a difficult year for Otago, with an inexperienced side finishing 6th out of 7 teams on the log to miss out on the playoffs altogether, although they did bounce back the [[2015 ITM Cup|following year]], ending up in 3rd place before being bettered by {{rut|Wellington}} in the semi-finals, their 3rd playoff defeat in 4 years. Coltman played 18 games across the 2 seasons and scored 3 tries.

He spent a large part of the [[2016 Mitre 10 Cup]] season training with the [[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Blacks]] so was only able to feature in 4 matches for the Razorbacks as they topped the Championship log and made it all the way to the playoff final before being surprisingly defeated at home by {{rut|North Harbour}}.<ref name="Liam Coltman itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics"/>

==Super Rugby==

A member of the {{rut|Highlanders}} wider training group in [[2011 Super Rugby season|2011]] and [[2013 Super Rugby season|2012]], Coltman finally made the full squad ahead of the [[2013 Super Rugby season]].<ref name="SUPER RUGBY WIDER TRAINING GROUPS ANNOUNCED">{{cite web | url=http://www.securesites.co.nz/rugbyNews2011/archivearticle/?article=5382 | title=SUPER RUGBY WIDER TRAINING GROUPS ANNOUNCED | publisher=Rugby News.co.nz | date = 29 November 2011 | accessdate=14 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="NZ finalise 2012 Super Rugby squads">{{cite web | url=http://www.superxv.com/nz-finalise-2012-super-rugby-squads/ | title=NZ finalise 2012 Super Rugby squads | publisher=Super XV.com | date = 29 November 2012 | accessdate=14 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="Highlanders 2013 Squad">{{cite web | url=http://thehighlanders.co.nz/our-news/latest-news/323-squad2013 | title=Highlanders 2013 Squad | publisher=Super XV.com | accessdate=14 January 2017 | archive-date=16 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116162144/http://thehighlanders.co.nz/our-news/latest-news/323-squad2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Serving as back up to experienced All Black, [[Andrew Hore]], he managed an impressive 13 appearances, mainly from the replacements bench, during his first campaign of Super Rugby. This apprenticeship served him well as Hore's retirement at the end of 2013 left Coltman as the Highlanders first choice hooker for [[2014 Super Rugby season]] and he started 11 times as his franchise reached the tournament quarter finals before being defeated 31-27 by the {{rut|Sharks}} in [[Durban]].

[[2015 Super Rugby season|2015]] was an historic year for the Highlanders as they lifted their first ever Super Rugby title after a 21–14 victory over the {{rut|Hurricanes}} in the final. [[Ash Dixon]] had been brought in from {{rut|Hawke's Bay}} to provide competition for the number 2 shirt, however Coltman started 15 games to Dixon's 4 and featured in all 19 fixtures during the 'Landers maiden Super Rugby winning season. The competition between Coltman and Dixon continued through [[2016 Super Rugby season|2016]] and with the Highlanders unable to hold on to their title, losing 42–30 to the {{rut|Lions}} in the semi-finals, Coltman only started 6 games through the year out of a total of 10 appearances.<ref name="Liam Coltman itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics"/><ref name=3-year-deal>{{cite web | url=http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/highlanders/259739/rugby-who-will-stay-and-who-will-go-14 | title=Who will stay and who will go in 2014? | first=Steve | last=Hepburn | date=5 June 2013 | work=[[Otago Daily Times]] | publisher=Allied Press | accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref><ref name=coltman-coming-through>{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/9678219/Look-out-Coltmans-coming-through | title=Look out – Coltman's coming through | first=Nathan | last=Burdon | date=3 February 2014 | work=[[Otago Daily Times]] | publisher=Allied Press | accessdate=3 February 2014}}</ref>

Coltman started for the Highlanders against the touring [[British & Irish Lions]] team on 13 June 2017, contributing heavily towards the Highlanders' narrow 23–22 win and scoring a try in the 59th minute. Coltman was replaced by [[Greg Pleasants-Tate]] in the 67th minute.

==International== Coltman was a member of the [[New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team|New Zealand Under-20]] side which won the [[2010 IRB Junior World Championship]] held in Argentina, scoring 1 try in 5 matches.<ref name="New Zealand Under 20 squad named">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/News/12827/new-zealand-under-20-squad-named | title=New Zealand Under 20 squad named | publisher=All Blacks.com | date=29 April 2010 | accessdate=14 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116143419/http://www.allblacks.com/News/12827/new-zealand-under-20-squad-named | archive-date=16 January 2017 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Liam Coltman All Blacks Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.allblacks.com/Player/AllBlacks/1981 | title=Liam Coltman All Blacks Player Profile | publisher=All Blacks.com | accessdate=14 January 2017}}</ref>

He was called up to the All Blacks squad to provide injury cover for [[Nathan Harris (rugby union)|Nathan Harris]] during the [[2016 Rugby Championship]], but didn't get any game time during the tournament as [[Dane Coles]] and [[Codie Taylor]] remained fit and in good form. However, during the [[2016 end-of-year rugby union internationals]], he made his debut, coming on as a 65th minute replacement for Codie Taylor in a 68–10 victory against {{nrut|Italy}} in Rome.<ref>{{cite news|title=Uncapped winger Rieko Ioane is among five players called up by New Zealand |url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12040/10547353/uncapped-winger-rieko-ioane-is-among-five-players-given-a-call-up-by-new-zealand|accessdate=13 October 2016|publisher=Sky Sports|date=22 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="Liam Coltman ESPN Scrum Player Profile">{{cite web | url=http://en.espn.co.uk/newzealand/rugby/player/117364.html | title=Liam Coltman ESPN Scrum Player Profile | publisher=ESPN Scrum | accessdate=14 January 2017}}</ref>

Coltman failed to make the field for the All Blacks during 2017, due to injury, but was re-selected for the three-test [[2018 France rugby union tour of New Zealand|2018 Steinlager series]] against France after an outstanding Super Rugby season. Coltman replaced Codie Taylor in the 71st minute of the series' final test, on 23 June 2018. Coltman did not make a mistake as the All Blacks beat France 49–14, winning the series 3–0.

After a series of excellent performances throughout the [[2019 Super Rugby season]], Coltman overtook Nathan Harris as New Zealand's third-choice hooker. He made two appearances off the bench during the [[2019 Rugby Championship]], with Dane Coles still struggling with injuries.

On 28 August 2019, All Blacks Head Coach, [[Steve Hansen]], named Coltman in New Zealand's 31-man squad for the [[2019 Rugby World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/all-blacks-squad-named-for-rugby-world-cup-2019/| title= All Blacks squad named for Rugby World Cup 2019| date= 28 August 2019 | website=allblacks.com| accessdate= 2 November 2019}}</ref> Coltman made his first-ever start for New Zealand during the pool stages, in a 63–0 win over Canada. Although Coltman didn't play in any other tests during the pool stages, he replaced Dane Coles off the bench during the 24th minute of the Bronze Final. Coltman was one of the star performers of the match, with New Zealand beating Wales 40–17 in the bronze final, claiming third place at the World Cup.

==Honours== '''New Zealand Under-20'''

*[[IRB Junior World Championship]] – [[2010 IRB Junior World Championship|2010]]

'''Highlanders'''

* [[Super Rugby]] – [[2015 Super Rugby season|2015]]

'''New Zealand''' * [[Rugby World Cup]] / [[Webb Ellis Cup]] **Third-place: [[2019 Rugby World Cup|2019]]

'''Utah Warriors''' * All Major League Ruby first team (2025)

==Super Rugby statistics==

{{updated|13 November 2021}}<ref name="Liam Coltman itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height:90%; font-size:95%; width:60%;" |- ! Season !! Team !! Games !! Starts !! Sub !! Mins !! Tries !! Cons !! Pens !! Drops !! Points !! Yel !! Red |- | [[2013 Super Rugby season|2013]] || {{Rut|Highlanders}} || 13 || 3 || 10 || 361 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | [[2014 Super Rugby season|2014]] || {{Rut|Highlanders}} || 14 || 11 || 3 || 676 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | [[2015 Super Rugby season|2015]] || {{Rut|Highlanders}} || 19 || 15 || 4 || 935 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | [[2016 Super Rugby season|2016]] || {{Rut|Highlanders}} || 10 || 6 || 4 || 385 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | [[2017 Super Rugby season|2017]] || {{Rut|Highlanders}} || 15 || 15 || 0 || 908 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |- | [[2018 Super Rugby season|2018]] || {{Rut|Highlanders}} || 15 || 10 || 5 || 649|| 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 10 || 0 || 0 |- | [[2019 Super Rugby season|2019]] || {{Rut|Highlanders}} || 15 || 15 || 0 || 896 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 15 || 0 || 0 |- | [[2020 Super Rugby season|2020]] || {{Rut|Highlanders}} || 13 || 5 || 10 || 429|| 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | [[2021 Super Rugby season|2021]] || {{Rut|Highlanders}} || 14 || 2 || 12 || 377|| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 0 |- !colspan="2"|Total || 127|| 82 || 45|| 5,571|| 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 35 || 0 || 0 |}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coltman, Liam}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1990 births]] [[Category:Rugby union hookers]] [[Category:Rugby union players from New Plymouth]] [[Category:Otago rugby union players]] [[Category:Highlanders (rugby union) players]] [[Category:New Zealand rugby union players]] [[Category:New Zealand international rugby union players]] [[Category:People educated at Francis Douglas Memorial College]] [[Category:University of Otago alumni]] [[Category:Lyon OU Rugby players]] [[Category:2019 Rugby World Cup players]] [[Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in France]] [[Category:Utah Warriors players]] [[Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen]] [[Category:Yokohama Canon Eagles players]]