Ben Funnell

Benjamin Camden John Funnell (born 6 June 1990) is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a hooker for in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and the Western Force in Super Rugby.

Early career

Born in Palmerston North in New Zealand's Manawatū-Whanganui region, Funnell grew up on a dairy farm in the small town of Opiki, 15 km to the south-west of his birthplace. He is a cousin of the Whitelock brothers; George, Adam, Sam and Luke who all went on to play for Canterbury and the Crusaders and attended the same primary school as the boys before attending Palmerston North Boys' High School, where he captained their rugby first XV, while the Whitelocks attended the rival Feilding High School.

While in school, Funnell represented at under-18 level before heading south to Christchurch after graduation to study accounting at university. He joined the High School Old Boys side which compete in the local Canterbury club rugby competition and also made his way through the Canterbury youth structures, turning out for both their Academy and Colts sides as well as the Crusaders Knights development team.

Senior career

Funnell first made the Canterbury squad for the 2011 ITM Cup and immediately made a big impression. Taking advantage of an injury to Steve Fualau, he made his national provincial championship debut as a replacement for Paul Ngauamo in the first match of the season against and went on to play 7 times during his first year at provincial level, lifting the Premiership trophy for the first time as Canterbury overcame 12–3 in the final.

Super Rugby

An impressive debut season for Canterbury in 2011 saw Funnell elevated to the Crusaders squad for the 2012 Super Rugby season. Aged just 21, he had to be content serving as back up to the more experienced Corey Flynn and Quentin MacDonald and made just a solitary appearance, as a replacement in a match against the in Sydney during his first season with the 'Saders. MacDonald's departure for the in 2013 saw Funnell promoted to second choice hooker behind Flynn and he played 15 times including 3 starts as the Crusaders lost to the , 20–19, in the semi-finals.

With Flynn reaching the veteran stage of his career in 2014, Funnell began to be groomed to take over the starting duties from him, with the duo rotating and Flynn starting 10 games to Funnell's 8 as the Crusaders narrowly lost to the in the final of the competition. Flynn's departure for Toulouse at the end of 2014 left Funnell as first choice hooker for the 2015 season with Codie Taylor and Ged Robinson serving as his back ups. Funnell played in all 16 games of a disappointing season for the Crusaders, starting 10 games to Taylor's 6 as the men from Christchurch finished in 7th place on the final log, just outside of the play-off spots.

2016 saw the Crusaders return to the Super Rugby play-offs, finishing 7th once again on the overall log, however due to competition restructuring, this was enough to see them advance to the quarter finals where they went down 42–25 to the in Johannesburg. The season was a struggle for Funnell as he lost his starting spot to Taylor and had to make do with just 1 start in 9 appearances. Funnell returned to Super Rugby in 2024. On 6 February 2024, the announced that the franchise had signed Funnell for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.

International career

Funnell was a New Zealand Schools representative in 2008.

Career honours

Canterbury

National Provincial Championship – 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017

Super Rugby statistics

Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red 2012 1 0 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2013 15 3 12 475 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2014 17 8 9 664 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 2015 16 10 6 722 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 2016 8 1 8 227 1 0 0 0 5 0 0Total 58 22 36 2099 3 0 0 0 15 0 0