John Kirwan
New Zealand
player portrait
Full name John James Patrick Kirwan
Born December 16, 1964, Auckland
Current age 59 years 94 days
Major teams World XV, New Zealand, New Zealand XV
Position Wing
Height 6 ft 4 in
Weight 202 lb

Test career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 1984-1994 63 62 1 143 35 0 0 0 48 12 3 78.57
Bledisloe Cup 1985-1993 18 18 0 29 7 0 0 0 11 6 1 63.88
IRB Rugby World Cup 1987-1991 11 11 0 28 7 0 0 0 10 1 0 90.9

Career statistics
Test debut New Zealand v France at Christchurch, Jun 16, 1984 match details
Last Test New Zealand v South Africa at Auckland, Aug 6, 1994 match details
Test Statsguru Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list
Notes
Knighted in 2012 for services to mental health awareness and rugby
Profile

After a try-laden career with the All Blacks, Kirwan is already considered a legendary figure within the game. However, he is now hoping to further enhance his reputation as a coach, with Japan.

Kirwan was an 18-year-old winger learning his trade with the Marist third grade side when, in 1983, John Hart, on the advice of former All Blacks Paul Little and Eric Boggs, selected him for Auckland union's centenary fixture against a President's XV. Kirwan excelled. It was obvious that Auckland had unearthed a very special talent and, within a year, Kirwan was making his debut for the All Blacks, against France in Christchurch.

The first of the numerous injuries which would blight his career arrived later in the year, before the Kiwis' tour of Australia, but he quickly established himself as an automatic selection in the New Zealand squad.

Indeed, when fully fit, Kirwan was virtually unstoppable. He lit up the inaugural World Cup of 1987, scoring six tries in total, including two in the semi-final rout of Wales and a brace in the final against France. However, the pick of his scores was a stunning, length-of-the-field effort against Italy in the pool stages which announced the arrival of a fresh-faced superstar on the world scene.

There was even better to come, though, from an individual perspective. The following year Kirwan scored a staggering ten tries in five tests, against Wales and Australia.

Though he never quite reached those heights again - persistent hamstring trouble was undoubtedly a key factor in that regard - when Kirwan's international career came to an end in 1994, he had appeared in 63 tests for the All Blacks, scoring 35 tries - then a record.

At club level, he starred in Auckland's champion Ranfurly Shield and NPC teams of 1985 and 93. Indeed, he will forever be remembered for his stunning eight-try haul in the 1993 defence against North Otago at Oamaru.

He regularly lined out for Italian side Treviso during off-seasons in New Zealand and also tried his hand at rugby league, with the Auckland Warriors, before finishing up for good in Japan with NEC Green Rockets in 1999.

A move into coaching followed. He took charge of the Rockets for two years before returning to New Zealand to take up an assistant coaching role with the Auckland Blues.

In 2002, he was appointed Italy head coach and the Azzurri, under his guidance, enjoyed a decent World Cup the following year, racking victories over Tonga and Canada. However, despite an initially promising start to his reign, he was relieved of his duties in 2005 after a Six Nations campaign featuring five successive defeats.

However, he returned to coaching with Japan at the start of 2007 and their dramatic draw with Canada in the World Cup in France later in the year arrested a run of 13 successive defeats for the Cherry Blossoms at the sport's showpiece event.

Under Kirwan's command, Japan dominated the early years of the Asian 5 Nations with four successive titles between 2008 and 2011 but it was a familiar story at the next World Cup where the only highlight was a draw with Canada.

Kirwan parted company with Japan following that tournament and applied to become both England's interim head coach - following the departure of Martin Johnson - and their permanent boss only to be told he lacked experience with a top nation.

Latest Articles
Sir John Kirwan resigns as Blues coach (Jun 19, 2015) Blues secure third win of the season (May 15, 2015) Blues move to clear up coaching chaos (May 15, 2015) 'Blues fans changing allegiance and walking away' (May 13, 2015) Kirwan calls for greater concussion consistency (Apr 16, 2015) John Kirwan news and articles (105) »
Latest Photos
Mar 11, 2015
The Blues' Sir John Kirwan speaks to media before a training session
The Blues' Sir John Kirwan speaks to media before a training session
©  Getty Images
Jun 28, 2014
The Blues' Sir John Kirwan smiles after victory
The Blues' Sir John Kirwan smiles after victory
©  Getty Images
May 18, 2013
The Crusaders' Dan Carter and the Blues' Sir John Kirwan share a joke
The Crusaders' Dan Carter and the Blues' Sir John Kirwan share a joke
©  Getty Images
Feb 15, 2013
Blues head coach Sir John Kirwan watches on
Blues head coach Sir John Kirwan watches on
©  Getty Images
John Kirwan rugby photos (20) »

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