An inspirational centre and natural leader with Canterbury, Crusaders and the All Blacks, Aaron Mauger joined Leicester Tigers at the end of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
He scored his first try for the club in the home win over Bristol in April 2008 and followed up with a crucial score in the Guinness Premiership semi-final win at Gloucester.
He made a massive contribution to the run to two major finals in 2008/09, including a run as captain in the absence of Martin Corry, and was named Supporters’ Player of the Year despite injury sidelining him for the last weeks of the season.
Aaron made his Test debut in 2001 after previously representing New Zealand at U-16, Schools, U-19 and U-21 levels. As well as captaining the U-21 side, the former Canterbury High School Old Boys centre appeared for his province in New Zealand’s NPC, before winning titles at both Super 12 and Super 14 levels with the Crusaders. By the end of the 2007 World Cup he had won close to 50 caps for his country before embarking on a new adventure in England and making his Leicester debut in the Heineken Cup tie against Toulouse in December 2007.
Aaron’s family is steeped in All Black history, with his uncles Stephen and Graeme Bachop having represented New Zealand, as well as his brother Nathan. Aaron scored a try after 54 minutes of his Test debut, against Ireland at Dublin in 2001.