Ex student Phil Burrows has been recognised in the 2017 New Year honours for his stellar hockey career.
Burrows has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his services to hockey.
Burrows, New Zealand’s most capped Black Sticks player of all time, announced his retirement from international hockey in November 2016.
He made his debut in 2000 and played a whopping 343 tests in a career which saw him compete at three Olympic Games (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012), four Commonwealth Games (Manchester 2002, Melbourne 2006, Delhi 2010, Glasgow 2014) and four World Cups (Kuala Lumpur 2002, Monchengladbach 2006, Delhi 2010, The Hague 2014).
He also captained the New Zealand side from 2009-2011.
Burrows remains one of only three players who have ever eclipsed the 300 test mark for New Zealand, leading fellow retired legends Ryan Archibald (327) and Dean Couzins (318).
The 36-year-old is also the Black Sticks’ most prolific goal scorer of all time having found the back of the net 150 times from either the striker or midfielder positions.
Phil was quoted by Fairfax on the recognition “I was pretty taken-aback just to be nominated,”
“Hearing I was actually going to be on the list, I feel pretty privileged and honoured. I’m just a hockey player, you don’t expect you get these kind of honours.”
Congratulations Phil from all at Newlands College for your achievements.