Sean Fitzpatrick MNZM (born 4 June 1963 in Auckland) is a former rugby union footballer who represented New Zealand, and is widely regarded as one of the finest players ever to come from that country. He is also the son of former player Brian Fitzpatrick. Sean Fitzpatrick is the Founder and Director of Front Row Hospitality Ltd, which includes Front Row Leadership.

Sean Fitzpatrick's high school education was at Sacred Heart College, Auckland. As a primary school student he attended at Mt Carmel Primary (Auckland).

A product of the powerful Auckland provincial side, Fitzpatrick made his international debut as one of the "Baby Blacks" in the 1986 Test series in France. Although most of the regular starting fifteen for New Zealand had been suspended following the unauthorised "Cavaliers" tour of South Africa, the All Blacks won, and a number of new faces made their mark on the selectors. Despite this start, Fitzpatrick still went in to the inaugural Rugby World Cup as second choice to captain Andy Dalton. However, Dalton had to withdraw from the early stages of the tournament due to injury, and although he recovered in time for the finals, Fitzpatrick kept his place in the team, leaving scrum-half David Kirk to skipper the side to victory against France in the final at Eden Park in Auckland.

Zinzan Valentine Brooke (born Murray Zinzan Brooke on 14 February 1965; changed name by deed poll) is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer who played at number eight. His brother, Marty Brooke, played for Auckland and Southland at provincial level, and his brother Robin Brooke played lock for Auckland and New Zealand.

Brooke played 58 tests for New Zealand, and 42 non-international matches for the All Blacks, captained Auckland Blues to Super 12 championships in 1996 and 1997 and was an influential figure in Auckland's dominance in the National Provincial Championship during the late 1980s and 1990s. He scored 17 tries in Test matches, then a world record for a forward. He also played for New Zealand Māori.

Brooke was a founding player of the Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok), playing in the inaugural side in 1994 against Taradale RFC. In 1995 his biography 'Zinny: The Zinzan Brooke story', written with Alex Veysey, was published

Brooke is considered one of the best number eights to have ever played for the All Blacks. He had the running and kicking skills of a backline player which made him extremely mobile and agile as a forward. He once kicked a 47-metre drop goal during a 1995 Rugby World Cup match, one of three he scored in Test matches.

Gordon Bray AM (born 23 June 1949) has risen to prominence as one of Australia's leading sports commentators, earning himself the title, "The Voice of Rugby".

Brought up in the Sydney suburb of Canada Bay and educated at the publicly funded Homebush Boys High School, Bray was a talented schoolboy rugby union footballer representing NSW Combined High Schools and subsequently Eastern Suburbs. While not pursuing a full time career in rugby, he has since made cameo appearances at several tournaments, including the Ettamogah Pub Sevens competition in Albury, the Hong Kong Tens and the World Classics in Bermuda.

He has previously commentated on six Olympic Games, five Commonwealth Games, and more than 300 rugby internationals, including four Rugby World Cups. His broadcasting experience spans a career of over 40 years.

Bray has previously commentated for the ABC, BBC, Fox Sports, and Network Ten before joining the Seven Network, where he's currently employed.

In 2001 he was awarded an Australian Sports Medal for his services to sport, and in the June 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours List he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to rugby and the community. He is also a past recipient of the prestigious Penguin Award for his sports broadcasting talents.

Ryan William Nelsen, ONZM (born 18 October 1977) is a New Zealand footballer who is a defender, and is currently a free agent after being released by Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. Nelsen captains the New Zealand national team, the All Whites.

Nelsen was born in Christchurch. After attending Our Lady of the Assumption primary school and St Thomas of Canterbury College, he moved to the United States to play for Greensboro College in North Carolina in 1997. After spending two years at Greensboro and leading The Pride to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III championship match, only to lose to Ohio Wesleyan University, he transferred to Stanford University where he played his final two years of college soccer. He was named Stanford's Most Valuable Player as a junior and an NSCAA All-American as a senior while playing as a defensive midfielder. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science.

Serendipitously, Nelsen - then 20 - was home for a semester's sabbatical from his university soccer scholarship with Greensboro College in the United States. He'd already had three or four seasons with Christchurch United before he went stateside.

Brian Cowen (born 10 January 1960) is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.

Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May 2008 until 22 January 2011, when he resigned under political pressure after a failed and highly controversial attempt at a cabinet reshuffle.

He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois–Offaly constituency from 1984 to 2011. He previously served as Minister for Labour (1992–93), Minister for Energy (1993), Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (1993–94), Minister for Health (1997–2000), Minister for Foreign Affairs (2000–04) and Minister for Finance (2004–08) and also as Tánaiste (2007–08). He became leader of Fianna Fáil on the resignation of Bertie Ahern. On 7 May 2008, following the resignation of Ahern as Taoiseach, Cowen was nominated by Dáil Éireann to replace him and was appointed by the President later that day.