Ben Blair
A versatile and ice-cool goal-kicker whose reliable boot made him a cult hero in European club rugby.
Born 1979 (age 47)·NZ international rugby union player·Birthday: March 26·Generation X
Biography
Ben Blair carved out a distinctive career defined by precision under pressure. While his four caps for the All Blacks were a brief glimpse at the international pinnacle, his true legacy was built over a decade of stellar club performance. After starting in New Zealand, he found his lasting home with Cardiff Blues in Wales, where his metronomic goal-kicking became a cornerstone of the team's success. Blair was the archetypal steadying influence at fullback, a player whose calm demeanour belied a fierce competitive edge. He played a pivotal role in Cardiff's 2010 Amlin Challenge Cup victory, his kicking often the difference in tight matches. More than just a points accumulator, his intelligent positioning and safe hands made him a consistent and trusted figure, earning deep respect from fans who valued his quiet excellence over a long and fruitful tenure.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ben was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ben Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Ben's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Kicked 17 points in the 2010 Amlin Challenge Cup final to help Cardiff Blues secure their first European trophy.
- Scored over 1,000 points for the Cardiff Blues during his six-season stint with the club.
- Made his All Blacks Test debut against Scotland in 2001, scoring 11 points.
- Won the Celtic League title with the Cardiff Blues in the 2008-09 season.
Did You Know?
He scored 37 points on his debut for the New Zealand XV against Ireland A in 2001, a non-Test match.
Before moving to Wales, he played Super Rugby for the Canterbury Crusaders and the Auckland Blues.
He holds a degree in commerce from the University of Canterbury.
After retirement, he worked in financial planning in Cardiff.
“A kick at goal is a simple thing: see the posts, strike the ball cleanly.”
