Reuben Parkinson played at centre in all six of his matches for the Hurricanes in 1999 as part of a late developing, yet extremely colourful rugby career that included playing test rugby for Japan.

The son of a cray-fisherman, Parkinson, started rugby life as a flanker, before moving south to Dunedin and switching to the midfield where his career took off in a hurry. He went on to play 49 games for Otago, including winning an NPC title with them in 1998, as well as a season with the Highlanders in 1998, followed by a sojourn with the Hurricanes.

He then headed to Sanix in Japan, staying for five seasons and making the Japanese Cherry Blossoms for the 2003 World Cup, alongside another Hurricanes midfielder George Konia. Parkinson moved home from Japan to play for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in 2005.  Reuben’s younger brother Matua also spent a season with the Hurricanes in 2000, the year after he left.