All you need to know about Fletcher Newell, the exceptional rugby prop

All you need to know about Fletcher Newell, the exceptional rugby prop

Ciku Njuguna
updated at March 10, 2024 at 1:30 PM

Fletcher Newell is a rugby player who plays for New Zealand's men’s rugby union team, the All Blacks, and the Super Rugby’s Crusaders. In 2024, the power scrummer broke the Crusaders Academy's all-time squat record, making him one of the team's strongest players. Discover who Fletcher Newell is and uncover every detail of his career.

Rugby union player, Fletcher Newell
Fletcher Newell (l) in action during a match against Georgia as part of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship. On the right, he poses for the Crusaders. Photo by Amilcar Orfali/Kai Schwoerer.
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

Does Fletcher Newell have the heaviest squat of all time? While the prop does not own the heaviest squat record, Newell is ranked among the strongest rugby players. This article dives into the personal and professional life of the Crusaders.

Fletcher Newell’s profile summary

Full name

Fletcher Newell

Date of birth

1 March 2000

Age

24 years old as of March 2024

Place of birth

Rangiora, New Zealand

Nationality

New Zealander

Residence

Christchurch, New Zealand

Height

186 centimetres (6'1")

Weight

121 kilograms (266.7 lbs)

Father

Arnold Newell

Siblings

3

Relationship status

Dating

Partner

Caitlyn Sue

Education

Rangiora High School

Profession

Professional rugby union player

International test debut

August 2022

Position

Prop

Teams

Crusaders, New Zealand's national rugby union team

Active years

2019 - present

Net worth

$1 million - $5 million

Social media pages

Instagram, LinkedIn

Fletcher Newell’s biography

The rugby union player was born to Arnold and Sarah Newell in Rangiora, New Zealand. Later, the family moved to Leithfield in north Canterbury, New Zealand. He has three siblings, two sisters, Lillian and Lucia and an unnamed stepbrother.

Bio facts about Fletcher Newell
Fletcher Newell poses for a portrait during the New Zealand Rugby World Cup squad photocall on September 02, 2023, in Lyon, France. Photo by Adam Pretty/World Rugby.
Source: Getty Images

At 15, the prop lost his mother. However, this did not deter his ambitions. On the eve of his test debut against the Springboks in Johannesburg, South Africa, his father, Arnold Fletcher, spoke to the All Blacks media, saying,

"Fletcher rang me on Tuesday and announced that he had been named in the team to come off the bench. Wow! Then he rang me this morning and said, 'You better pack your bags.' It did not really sink in that quickly. He said we are getting you over for my debut. It was pretty emotional, actually."

The proud father later added,

" I did put a sign up just to let the country know that Fletcher from the Leithfield community is an All Black because I am so proud. It is on State Highway One, so everyone can see it. If they do not know who he is, they will know who he is. After the game, everyone will know."

Is Fletcher Newell married?

Fletcher is in a relationship. While not much is known about his dating life, his social media accounts reveal that he has been in a relationship with Caitlyn Sue for over five years.

New Zealand's Fletcher Newell (in black) scores a try.
New Zealand's Fletcher Newell (in black) scores a try during a Rugby World Cup match against Uruguay at Parc Olympique on October 05, 2023, in Lyon, France. Photo by Xavier Laine.
Source: Getty Images

What is Fletcher Newell’s weight and height?

How big is Fletcher Newell? According to his All Blacks profile, he weighs 266.7 lbs (121 kilograms). Additionally, Fletcher Newell’s height is six feet and one inch (186 centimetres).

Education

Fletcher attained his secondary school qualifications, NCEA Level 1-3, at Rangiora High School. Between 2018 and 2021, he attended Lincoln University and pursued a Bachelor's degree in Land and Property Management.

Career

Fletcher's journey with rugby began in high school and in the Ashley Rugby Football Club, where he honed his talents. In 2014, he represented the Rangiora High School and was named to the South Island Junior Rugby Tournament Under-15 team. Scroll down for a full investigation into his journey from RHS through the Crusaders ranks.

What is Fletcher Newell's position?

According to his All Rugby profile, Newell is a standout prop. He plays primarily in the tighthead prop position in domestic and international matches.

Canterbury's Fletcher Newell (c) offloads the ball.
Canterbury's Fletcher Newell (c) offloads the ball during a Bunnings NPC match against Hawke's Bay at Orangetheory Stadium on October 16, 2021, in Christchurch, New Zealand. Photo by Kai Schwoerer.
Source: Getty Images

Who does Fletcher Newell play for?

At the time of writing, Fletcher plays for the Crusaders. The Rangiora native is one of the region's most famous All Blacks players.

Club career

Fletcher Newell is one of the six props under contract with the Crusaders. His journey with the Crusaders began at the club's academy before playing for Canterbury's under-19 team in 2019.

The New Zealand prop is regarded as one of the hardest hitters in the sport, with an 87% tackle success rate. Have a look at this summary of Fletcher Newell's performance stats as of February 2024.

Team

Canterbury Rugby Union Team

Crusaders Rugby

Matches

16

20

Starting

3

9

Wins

8

15

Losses

8

4

Draws

0

0

Tries

1

2

Points

0

10

All Blacks' Fletcher Newell (in black) offloads the ball.
All Blacks' Fletcher Newell (in black) offloads the ball during a training session at Stade Jacques-Chaban-Delmas on September 18, 2023, in Bordeaux, France. Photo by Hannah Peters.
Source: Getty Images

International career

Fletcher first appeared for New Zealand in 2019 during the Under-20 Championship in Argentina. He made four appearances for the New Zealand Under-20 team, recording three wins and one loss.

At the time of writing, he has appeared in five Rugby World Cup matches out of 13 international career matches. Here is a summary of Fletcher Newell's All Blacks performance record.

International debut

August 13, 2022

Career matches

13

All-time Rugby World Cup matches

5

All-time Rugby World Cup tries

1

All-time Rugby World Cup tackles

21

All-time Rugby World Cup tackle success

87%

Wins

10

Losses

3

Points

5

Awards

The international rugby player has stood out as one of New Zealand's top-ranked props. Here are some of the awards he has throughout his career.

New Zealand's Fletcher Newell pictured with various trophies.
New Zealand's Fletcher Newell pictured with various trophies. Photos by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Fiona Goodall/Kerry Marshall.
Source: Getty Images
  • 2014 Junior Boys Gold Most Valuable Player
  • 2014 Under-15 Junior Boys Tournament Most Improved Player
  • 2019 Sir DJ Graham Player of the Tournament Award
  • 2019 New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year
  • 2022 MainPower Sports Sportsman of the Year Award
  • 2022 Freedom Cup Winner

Frequently asked questions

From New Zealand's top Under-19 rugby player, the Rangiora product has proved to be one of the nation's power scrummers. Have a look at some interesting facts about him.

1. How much can Fletcher Newell squat?

Several publications suggest that rugby union players can deadlift up to two times their weight. In 2020, Fletcher Newell's 255 kg squat broke the Crusaders Academy's heaviest lift record. A TikTok video released by the All Blacks account in 2023 revealed that he had surpassed his original record, benching 272.5 kilograms (600.7 lbs).

2. How much is Fletcher Newell's net worth?

Rugby players in the Crusaders squad receive a base salary of $45,795.00 and $1,190,670, respectively. According to abtc, the prop is worth between $1 million and $5 million. The publication suggests that he receives an annual income of $864,900.

Crusaders' Fletcher Newell (l) runs the ball.
Crusaders' Fletcher Newell (l) runs with the ball during a Super Rugby Pacific match against the NSW Waratahs at Leichhardt Oval on April 30, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. Photo by Jeremy Ng.
Source: Getty Images

Final word

In a relatively short period, Fletcher Newell has shot to the top of rugby stardom. His presence on the All Blacks side is expected to prove fruitful when the squad meets England's Lions in July 2024 for the Steinlager Ultra Low Carb Series.

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Authors
Ciku Njuguna photo
Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.
Tags
Rugby World Cup