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Damian Sinclair McKenzie (born 20 April 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a First five-eighth or Fullback for the All Blacks, as well as the Chiefs in Super Rugby and Waikato in the Bunnings NPC.
McKenzie has received attention for his trademark smile before attempting a kick at goal.
In 2016, McKenzie played every game in the Chiefs' starting line-up at fullback. He finished the 2016 Super Rugby season as the Chiefs top try-scorer and the overall second highest try-scorer with 10 tries, behind Waratahs outside-back Israel Folau. He also finished the season as the second highest point-scorer with 199 points (10 tries, 43 conversion goals and 21 penalty goals); behind Hurricanes First Five Eighth Beauden Barrett.
McKenzie ranked top of the charts for carries, metres and defenders beaten in the 2017 Super Rugby season, while also ranked in the top three for clean breaks and points scored. In 2018, Damian McKenzie was the SANZAAR Player of the Season for the third year running.
On 15 April 2019, McKenzie was diagnosed with a torn ACL suffered against the Blues at FMG Stadium Waikato in the Super Rugby competition. Due to the injury, McKenzie was not able to participate in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
On 8 February 2020, Mckenzie was named at fullback for the Chiefs in their 25-15 victory over the Crusaders after recovering from his ACL injury.
In 2020, Mckenzie was chosen for the North Island to play in the North vs South rugby union match at Sky Stadium. Mckenzie kicked 100% off the boot, scoring 15 points, while also scoring a try and setting up another couple.
Mckenzie kicked off 2021 with a hiss and a roar, scoring tries in the Chiefs opening games of their Super Rugby Aotearoa season against the Highlanders and the Crusaders. Mckenzie then put on an inspiring performance, playing away at Sky Stadium against the Hurricanes to end the Chiefs record-breaking 11 match losing streak dating back to pre Covid 19 lockdown. He then scored the winning try against the Blues in the last minute the following week, the Chiefs snatching the victory 12-8. Following the bye week, Mckenzie slotted a historical match winning penalty against the Higlanders - from around 50m, in the first ever golden point extra time in New Zealand rugby. Again stealing the victory, winning 26-23 at Forsyth Barr Stadium. After three close wins, McKenzie then did it again. Knocking over the winning penalty in the dying minutes to beat the Crusaders (25-23) at home to a raucous crowd. He played at first five eight where he kicked at 100%, and out played incumbent All Blacks first-five, Richie Mo’unga. The following week he kicked another game winning penalty in the 84th minute from 45 metres to beat the Hurricanes (26-24) at home. He moved back to fullback and kicked 6 from 7 and scored 16 of the Chiefs 26 points. The Chiefs ended the regular season 2nd place and lost to the Crusaders in the Final. McKenzie finished 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa as the top points scorer with 111 points.
McKenzie started at 10 in the Chiefs opening 2 games of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, beating the Western Force and The Brumbies. In the 22nd minute of their encounter with the Queensland Reds, McKenzie was red carded for a high shot on halfback, Tate McDermott. The Chiefs playmaker was struck with a 3 game suspension for his actions.
McKenzie signed with Tokyo Sungoliath in the Japan Rugby League One competition. Tokyo Sungoliath finished runners up in the 2022 season after they lost 18-12 to Saitama Wild Knights in the final. He finished the season playing 14 matches and scoring 218 points which included 7 tries. Following the season, McKenzie re-signed with New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs.
In November 2022, McKenzie made 2 appearances for the Barbarians against Bath Rugby and Harlequins.
In his first season back with the Chiefs, McKenzie guided them to a 31-10 win over the Crusaders in Round One. In round five against the Waratahs, McKenzie played his 100th game for the Chiefs when he started at fullback. In a round 6 clash vs the Blues, McKenzie scored 10 points as the Chiefs won six out of six games before heading into their bye. McKenzie and the Chiefs made it to the 2023 Super Rugby Final - losing 20-25 to the Crusaders in Hamilton. McKenzie finished the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season as the top points scorer.
McKenzie was again instrumental in the Chiefs making another Super Rugby Pacific Final in 2024. The Chiefs finished 4th in the round robin - and went onto upset the Minor Premier Hurricanes in a famous semi final victory in Wellington. The Chiefs thus time losing to the Blues in Auckland. McKenzie again finished as the top points scorer.
McKenzie started 2025 with a hiss and a roar - guiding the Chiefs to an unbeaten 3/3 to start the season. Featuring prominently in the Chiefs victory over the Blues at Eden Park - where he scored 2 tries in a man of the match performance, out playing his opposite, Beauden Barrett.
Despite an outstanding Super Rugby campaign with the Chiefs in 2017, McKenzie was not selected in the initial squad for the All Blacks for the Pasifika Challenge against Samoa and the three-test British and Irish Lions series, with the uncapped Hurricanes utility back Jordie Barrett being selected at McKenzie's expense. However, he was recalled to the team following Ben Smith's concussion in the first test. Despite being re-called, McKenzie did not manage to make the field in the black jersey against the Lions.
With Jordie Barrett ruled out for the rest of 2017 with shoulder surgery following the conclusion of Super Rugby and while Ben Smith took a sabbatical following the 35-29 victory over Australia on 26 August 2017, McKenzie received more game-time featuring at Fullback. The week prior which was a 54-34 win over the Australians saw McKenzie score his first try for the All Blacks off a pass from Rieko Ioane. His performances starting against Australia saw McKenzie become a regular starter for the All Blacks and he played in every single Rugby Championship test starting at fullback in 2017. Following a good performance against Argentina in Buenos Aires on 1 October 2017, where he scored a try and set All Blacks captain Kieran Read up for the opening try, McKenzie earned the award for Man of the Match. McKenzie earned that honour in two consecutive tests, winning the award the following week in the 25-24 win against South Africa where he played well and scored another try. McKenzie's try in the second test against South Africa saw him finish the 2017 Rugby Championship as the third-highest try scorer in the competition behind Rieko Ioane and Wallaby fullback Israel Folau, finishing the competition with four tries.
McKenzie's great form from the Rugby Championship continued in the 2017 end-of-year tests, with McKenzie having great defensive displays against Australia and France. McKenzie was able to maintain form and ended the 2017 season with good performances in wins over Scotland and Wales.
McKenzie did not get any starts during the 2018 Rugby Championship. Coming off the bench against for the first four tests, he was then sent home from Argentina for a family bereavement and was dropped the next week against the Springboks in favour of Richie Mo'unga. McKenzie played well throughout the Championship with the opportunities he got, only playing a total of 106 minutes throughout the whole Rugby Championship.
McKenzie got his chance to start, playing at fullback in the third Bledisloe Cup match in Japan on the northern tour where he produced an outstanding performance combining with fellow playmaker Beauden Barrett in steering the team around the field during the All Blacks' 37-20 win over the Wallabies. McKenzie was then retained at fullback for the rest of the All Blacks northern tour matches, where he produced a fine showing against England, scoring the sole All Blacks try in their 16-15 victory at Twickenham. McKenzie started at fullback in the 16-9 defeat to Ireland in Dublin.
McKenzie was later named in the All Blacks 36 man squad for the 2021 Rugby Championship. McKenzie was picked at fullback for the first match against Australia where he scored a try and helped the All Blacks to a 33-25 win. One week later he started at fullback against Australia where the All Blacks got the win 57-22, McKenzie notably made a 57 meter long penalty kick in this game. This win also sealed the Bledisloe Cup for New Zealand.
McKenzie was then named in the All Blacks 2023 Rugby World Cup squad. McKenzie wasn’t selected to play in the opening match defeat to the French, but did get to play until Round 2 against Namibia where he played the full 80 minutes. He came on off the bench in Round 3 against Italy and played 17 minutes and then played the full 80 minutes in Round 4 against Uruguay - setting up the potential try of the tournament with an audacious offload with limited space on the touch line. McKenzie had a brilliant group stage showing - scoring 5 tries in 3 tests, as well as scoring a total of 49 points. He was named on the bench in the famous quarter-final win match against Ireland where he did not get any time on the field. He played in the semi-final against Argentina where he played 25 minutes off the bench. He then played in the Rugby World Cup final against previous world cup winners South Africa where he came off the bench for only 6 minutes of game time. The All Blacks lost 11-12 - many All Black fans criticised outgoing coach Ian Foster for the lack of game time given to McKenzie in the final. Some even stating the All Blacks would have won if McKenzie was given the chance to kick the go-ahead goals that Richie Mo’unga & Jordie Barrett both missed late in the game.
In round 1 of The Rugby Championship, McKenzie played the full 80 minutes against Argentina where the All Blacks lost 38-30. This was McKenzie's first loss while wearing the All Blacks 10 jersey. McKenize the following week started for the All Blacks and played 50 minutes with the All Blacks ending the game with a 42-10 win against Argentina - McKenzie with a near perfect performance in the 10 jersey.
In round 3, McKenzie played 80 minutes against South Africa and then the following week in round 4, played again the full 80 minutes against South Africa - McKenzie scored all 12 of the All Blacks points of his boot. The All Blacks lost both tests in South Africa (31-27 & 18-12) - with McKenzie heavily criticised for missing a 40m penalty kick in front of the posts with less than 10 minutes to go in the second test. The Springboks were down 11-12 at this stage, and scored a converted try not long after the missed penalty. McKenzie was also criticised for his game management in both games, with The All Blacks being ahead in both games, and not closing them out late.
McKenzie was retained at 10 to play Australia, again heavily criticised for a rocks and diamond display. The All Blacks scraped the win, a 28-31 victory in Sydney. McKenzie created a lot, but lacked a finished edge to his game. The calls for him to be benched were confirmed by Scott Robertson the following week, Beauden Barrett started at 10 against The Wallabies at Sky Stadium, McKenzie benched for the first time in 2024. The All Blacks won the test 33-13, with McKenzie featuring prominently off the bench.
McKenzie was selected at 10 to play Japan in Tokyo, a 19-64 victory to the All Blacks - McKenzie with 14 points off the boot in a solid attacking display.
McKenzie was then selected on the bench against England the following week at Twickenham - with All Blacks coach, Scott Robertson, favouring Beauden Barrett to start in 10 jersey. With the All Blacks down by 8, Barrett came off injured with a concussion. McKenzie came on and kicked a penalty & the winning conversion from the sideline - a 24-22 victory for the All Blacks.
McKenzie was then selected to start at 10 for the All Blacks against Ireland the following week, with Barrett injured. He had a standout man of the match performance against Ireland in Dublin - kicking 18 points off the boot, in an all time great 10 performance. McKenzie was pivotal in the All Blacks 23-13 victory, over an Irish team who had won 20+ straight at home, and were ranked World number 1 at the time.
The following week, McKenzie was dropped to the bench to play France, following his Irish heroics - All Blacks coach, Scott Robertson, selecting Beauden Barrett after recovering from the head knock he suffered against England. McKenzie came on at fullback in the 60th minute, kicking 4/4 penalties (12 points) in a 30-29 defeat to The French at the Stade de France.
McKenzie was selected on the bench to play Italy in Milan. He came on at fullback with 15 minutes to go in 11-29 victory. Damian McKenzie featured in all 14 tests for the All Blacks in 2024 (10 starts, 4 bench) - one of 3 players to do so that year.
McKenzie was named in the 2024 World Rugby Dream Team at first-five (10) - along side All Blacks team mates, Tyrel Lomax (prop - 3) & Will Jordan (fullback - 15). The All Blacks playmaker also finished as the leading points scorer in test rugby for the year, with 144 points.
On 29 May 2016, McKenzie was named in New Zealand's 33-man All Blacks squad for the June Test series against Wales. Although he was part of the All Blacks training camp, he did not play during the Test series due to winger Israel Dagg's return from injury.
| 2015 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 758 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 41 | 1 | 0 | |
| 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 1360 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 140 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 1090 | 6 | 39 | 23 | 0 | 177 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 521 | 2 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 81 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 944 | 1 | 18 | 21 | 1 | 107 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 821 | 5 | 23 | 21 | 0 | 134 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 1196 | 3 | 43 | 30 | 0 | 191 | 0 | 0 | |
| +List of international test tries !Try !Date !Venue !Opponent !Result !Competition | |||||
| 1 | 19 August 2017 | Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia | Australia | 54-34 | 2017 Rugby Championship |
| 2 | 9 September 2017 | Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand | Argentina | 39-22 | 2017 Rugby Championship |
| 3 | 30 September 2017 | Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Argentina | 36-10 | 2017 Rugby Championship |
| 4 | 7 October 2017 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa | South Africa | 25-24 | 2017 Rugby Championship |
| 5 | 18 November 2017 | Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland | Scotland | 22-17 | 2017 end-of-year internationals |
| 6 | 9 June 2018 | Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | France | 52-11 | 2018 mid-year internationals |
| 7-8 | 23 June 2018 | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand | France | 49-14 | 2018 mid-year internationals |
| 9 | 10 November 2018 | Twickenham Stadium, London, England | England | 16-15 | 2018 end-of-year internationals |
| 10-12 | 24 November 2018 | Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy | Italy | 66-3 | 2018 end-of-year internationals |
| 13 | 3 July 2021 | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand | Tonga | 102-0 | 2021 July rugby union tests |
| 14 | 7 August 2021 | Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | Australia | 33-25 | 2021 Rugby Championship |
| 15 | 23 October 2021 | FedExField, Washington D.C, USA | USA | 104-14 | 2021 end-of-year internationals |
| 16-17 | 15 September 2023 | Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse, France | Namibia | 71-3 | 2023 Rugby World Cup |
| 18 | 29 September 2023 | OL Stadium, Lyon, France | Italy | 96-17 | 2023 Rugby World Cup |
| 19-20 | 5 October 2023 | OL Stadium, Lyon, France | Uruguay | 73-0 | 2023 Rugby World Cup |
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