Sonny Parker

Sonny Parker was called out of international retirement for inclusion in the 2006 Invesco Perpetual Series squad. The last of his caps before his sabbatical came in the 24-22 victory over Australia in 2005. 

Parker made his full Wales debut against Romania in 2002. A starter in three of the 2003 Rugby World Cup matches, he touched down in the final pool match against New Zealand, sustaining an injury in the process that kept him out of the rest of the tournament.

The New Zealand-born centre won recognition with the New Zealand Maori Colts before heading to Wales to play for Pontypridd and the Celtic Warriors. Parker qualified to represent Wales under the three-year residency ruling.

Parker joined the Ospreys region in 2004. The 2006–2007 season saw notable displays against Gloucester in the EDF Energy Cup and Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup; Parker secured two tries in the final Magners League match of the season against Border Reivers to clinch the league trophy for the Ospreys.

In addition to the Pacific Islands clash Parker appeared for Wales in the 2006 Invesco Perpetual Series against Canada and New Zealand. Due to a groin injury Parker missed out on selection for the 2007 RBS Six Nations and was to be rested from the squad for the two-Test tour of Australia. However, Parker was called up to the Australia squad after Dafydd James sustained an injury; he played in both Test losses to the Wallabies.

After returning from the tour, Parker was named in Gareth Jenkins's 41-man preliminary Rugby World Cup 2007 summer training squad in June, made the final cut of 30 in August and made a replacement appearance against France in the Invesco Perpetual Summer Series.

The Rugby World Cup saw Parker score a try in Wales's Pool B opening encounter with Canada and he also appeared in the defeat to Australia at the Millennium Stadium. In November 2007 Wales Caretaker Coach Nigel Davies selected Parker in the starting line-up to face the Springboks in the inaugural Prince William Cup clash, in which the world champions triumphed 34-12.

Parker was included in the 2008 RBS Six Nations squad and made three appearances in the tournament; starting in the historic win at Twickenham and coming on as a replacement against Scotland and Italy at the Millennium Stadium.