George Gregan

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George Gregan bigraphy, stories - Australian rugby union player

George Gregan : biography

19 April 1973 –

George Musarurwa Gregan AM (born 19 April 1973) is an Australian retired rugby union player who has made more appearances for his national team than any other player in the sport’s history.

Gregan was born in Lusaka, Zambia. He played Super 12 (now Super Rugby) for the Brumbies from the inception of that competition in 1996 through 2007, helping to lead them to overall victories in 2001 and 2004. He is a foundation Brumbies player and one of the few players whose career spans both the amateur and professional eras. His appearances as Australian captain include a Bledisloe Cup win in 2002 and an extra-time loss to England in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final. As a member of the Wallabies team, Gregan has attained the zenith of the rugby world, winning the Rugby World Cup in 1999. Gregan and his longtime Wallabies teammate, fly-half Stephen Larkham, also hold the all-time record for Test appearances by a halfback partnership with 79.

Life

Gregan was born in Zambia, of a Zimbabwean mother and an Australian father, coincidentally in the same hospital where Corné Krige, who would grow up to be the South Africa captain during Gregan’s Wallabies captaincy, would be born two years later. His family moved to Australia when he was one year old, and he grew up in Canberra where he was educated at St Edmund’s College and graduated with a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) from the University of Canberra. He and his wife Erica have three children, Max, Charlie and Jazz. Max was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2004 and George set up the George Gregan Foundation in 2005 after spending time with Max in hospital. The foundation raises funds to build children’s playgrounds at hospitals and train doctors who specialize in epilepsy.

Post-playing retirement

In 2012, Gregan was assistant coach at the Brumbies. He runs the coffee company George Gregan Espresso.

Honours

Brumbies
  • Super Rugby: 2001, 2004
Toulon
  • Rugby Pro D2: 2007-2008
Suntory Sungoliath
  • All-Japan Rugby Football Championship: 2010-2011
Australia
  • World Cup: 1999
  • Tri-Nations: 2000, 2001
  • Bledisloe Cup: 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

Rugby career

Gregan represented Australia at under-19 and under-21 level.

1994 to 1999

He made his first appearance for the Wallabies in 1994 in a match against Italy in Brisbane, which the Wallabies won by three points, 23 to 20. He was subsequently capped in the victories over Italy again, and Western Samoa.

Later that year, Gregan made a famous try-saving tackle on All Black Jeff Wilson that directly led to Australia winning the Bledisloe Cup that year and is much remembered as one of the greatest moments in the Wallabies-All Blacks rivalry. After two caps against Argentina the following season, Gregan had so far been on the winning side in all of his international games as Australia entered the 1995 World Cup in South Africa as defending champions. However, Australia made their exit at the quarter finals, losing 25 to 22 to England at Newlands in Cape Town.

The game went professional post-1995 World Cup, and one outcome of this was the formation of the Super 12, of which Gregan became a foundation player for the ACT Brumbies franchise. That season Gregan appeared eight times for the Wallabies, including solid wins over both Wales and Canada in Brisbane, scoring a try in the Canadian clash. Another outcome of professionalism was the formation of the Tri Nations Series between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Gregan played in three of Australia’s four fixtures at the first ever tournament, scoring a try in the 25 to 32 loss to the All Blacks in Brisbane.

During the mid-1990s’ Super League war, Gregan was approached to be the starting halfback for the new Adelaide rugby league team for "seriously more money" than he would earn playing rugby union, but he opted to remain in the 15-man code.