John Kirwan (rugby)

John James Patrick Kirwan, KNZM, MBE ( born December 16, 1964 in Auckland ) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He is one of the most successful players of the 1980s and 1990s. Kirwan came 96 times for the All Blacks ( national ) for use and has been used on the position of the outer three- quarter. During two years he also played Rugby League. Since his retirement he has been active as a coach, he worked on the national teams of Italy and Japan.

Career

At club level played for Auckland Marist Kirwan from 1983 and was appointed in the same year in the national team of the Regional Council Auckland Rugby Football Union. With Auckland Kirwan won eight times the New Zealand Cup and was also largely responsible for that Auckland from 1985 in 61 challenge games to the Ranfurly Shield remained unbeaten until 1993. From 1986 to 1990 Kirwan played in Italy for Benetton Rugby Treviso.

His first international match with the All Blacks played Kirwan on 16 June 1984 against France. Until August 6, 1994, he came in 63 internationals for use, scoring 35 attempts. In addition, 33 more games against provincial and club teams, in which he scored a further 32 trials. He was at that time the most successful New Zealand national team ever. With the Rugby Union World Cup 1987, he celebrated his biggest success by winning the world title.

1995 and 1996 Kirwan played Rugby League for the Auckland Warriors and then stood until 2001 when the Japanese team NEC Green Rockets in Abiko under contract ( the last two years as player-coach ). There was a brief, unsuccessful engagement as assistant coach of the Auckland Blues in the Super 12 League.

2002 Kirwan was coach of the Italian national team. Under his leadership Italy won among others against Wales and Scotland. Once at Six Nations in 2005, not a single victory could be won, Kirwan was released in April 2005 by the Italian Association. On 25 October 2006 he was hired by the Japanese Association and came initially as a consultant to the insert until it took over the post of coach of the Japanese national on 1 January 2007.

In 2003 he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.

Statistics

  • Matches with the All Blacks: 63
  • Other games with the All Blacks: 33
  • 35 scored trials in international matches
  • NPC champions Auckland with: 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994
  • Italian Champion with Treviso: 1989
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