Matt Burke

As of May 29, 2008 National June 13, 2004

Matthew Burke ( born March 26, 1973 in Sydney ) is a former Australian rugby union player. He played on the position of the circuit 's and scored for Australian national team's second- most points. Michael Lynagh only is this statistic before him. He finished his career in 2008 at the Newcastle Falcons.

Career

Burke was the first time in 1990 part of the Australian national team when he traveled with the " Australian School Boys" in the United States and Ireland. Later, he also played for the U21 national team until he ran aground in 1993 for the first time for the Wallabies, as they met on South Africa.

In the match for the Bledisloe Cup in 1996 he succeeded in an outstanding effort against the All Blacks. Deep in his own half he got the ball, tackles some of New Zealanders opposed to then perform a run over 70 yards to the goal line. However, this could not alter the defeat of his team, although the attempt was the Australian supporters still long in the memory. Two years later he scored against New Zealand 24 points. So many counter has so far made no other player against the All Blacks.

In 1998, he was injured severely in the shoulder and fell out a long time. Despite this forced break, he was nominated for the 1999 World Cup for the squad and played a decisive role in the title of the Australians. So he contributed 23 points in the quarterfinals against New Zealand in the semifinal against South Africa 24 and 25 against France in the final at.

However, his injury crisis began after the World Cup triumph again, so that he could not regain his top form. Because of his injury unconstant services was left to Chris Latham the final position in the national team, so that Burke was repeatedly used as wings and full there could not convince.

Burke was part of the squad for the Wallabies 2003 World Cup, where he was placed first on the bench after a few games. Following the World Cup, he also lost his place in the Waratahs. Coach Ewan McKenzie, however, was sharply criticized for highlighting Burke, as he simultaneously tried to the approximately equal old footballer Andrew Johns, which lacked every kind of experience in rugby. However, Burke got delayed gratification, is honored in the since his resignation at the Waratahs, the player of the year with the "Matt Burke Trophy".

His last international match for Australia, he played on 21 August 2004, when he came off the bench in the match against South Africa in the final minutes.

With the end of the contract with the Waratahs Burke had numerous offers from various leagues. He ultimately opted for Newcastle Falcons and signed a contract there until 2008. In February 2007, he received a British passport, but also remained an Australian citizen. The passport application was necessary because of a rule in the Guinness Premiership, which allows only one non-EU foreigners per team. He was once elected Player of the Year at the Falcons.

In 2006 Burke was elected to the World Selection (World XV) and played with this against the Springboks. He is still the player with the most caps (54 ) for Australia in the final position and is among the ten players with the most goals points worldwide. It lies in the points list of Super 14 and the Tri Nations in second place, one behind Andrew Mehrtens of New Zealand.

In May 2008 he announced end of his career due to persistent injuries. On 8 August 2008, the Falcons host a farewell match for Burke against the Australian Super 14 team Western Force.