Keven Mealamu
A relentless and durable hooker, his powerful scrummaging and accurate lineout throws were the bedrock of New Zealand's back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs.
Born 1979 (age 47)·NZ international rugby union player·Birthday: March 20·Generation X
Biography
Born in Tokoroa, New Zealand, Keven Mealamu's rugby journey was one of quiet, unyielding force. He debuted for the All Blacks in 2002, quickly establishing himself not through flashy play but through a mastery of the dark arts at the front of the scrum. For over a decade, his consistency was staggering, forming a legendary hooker partnership with Andrew Hore. Mealamu's game was built on physicality and precision; his tackles were thunderous, and his set-piece work was a model of reliability. He became a cultural pillar within the All Blacks, embodying the team's ethos of humility and hard work. His career, spanning 132 tests, culminated in the ultimate achievement: lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in 2011 and again in 2015, a testament to his enduring excellence and a central figure in one of sport's greatest dynasties.
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.
Keven 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 Keven Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Keven'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
- Won the Rugby World Cup twice with the New Zealand All Blacks, in 2011 and 2015.
- Earned 132 caps for the All Blacks, making him one of the most-capped players in rugby history.
- Played a key role in the Blues' Super 12 championship victory in 2003.
- Captained the Auckland provincial team in the National Provincial Championship.
Did You Know?
He is of Samoan descent.
Mealamu and his brother, Luke, are one of few sets of brothers to have both played for the All Blacks.
He was known for his distinctive headgear, which he wore throughout most of his career.
After retirement, he became a firefighter in Auckland.
“It's not about the individual, it's about the team. That's the All Blacks way.”
