John Kirwan (rugby player)

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John Kirwan
Full name	John James Kirwan
Date of birth	1964-12-16
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	1.91 m
Weight	97 kg
Nickname	JK
Rugby union career
Position	Wing three-quarter
Amateur clubs
1983-1994 1986-1990 1996-2001	Auckland Marist Benetton Rugby Treviso NEC Green Rockets
correct as of 7 August 2006.
Provincial/State sides
1983-1994	Auckland
correct as of 7 August 2006.
National team(s)		Caps	(points)
1984-1994	New Zealand	63	(143)
correct as of 7 August 2006.
Teams coached
1999-2001 2001 2002-2005 2007-	NEC Green Rockets Auckland Blues (assist.) Italy Japan
correct as of 25 October 2006.
Rugby league career
Position	Wing
Professional clubs		Caps	(points)
1995-1996	Auckland Warriors
correct as of 7 August 2006.
Other Information
Occupation	Rugby union coach
School attended	De La Salle College
Spouse	Fiorella Kirwan
Children	Francesca, Niko and Luca

John James Kirwan (born 16 December 1964) is a New Zealand born rugby union footballer turned coach. Kirwan, who played as at wing, played 96 times (including 63 test matches) as an All Black from 1984 until 1994.

He played rugby league for two seasons in the |ARL (Australian Championship) for the Auckland Warriors before finishing his playing career with the NEC club in Japan.

[edit] Coaching career

In 2002, he moved to Italy to become the coach of the Italian national rugby team, however after a winless 2005 Six Nations campaign, he was relieved of his managerial duties on 8 April 2005.

Kirwan was announced by the JRFU as the new Japan coach on 25 October 2006. He acted as team advisor until he took up the head coach role on January 1, 2007.

Interviewed by the Daily Yomiuri just after his appointment was announced he said: "The level of rugby has improved greatly in Japan in the last 10 years and they did well at the last World Cup. But their recent performances at national level have [not been good]. I want to find that 'Samurai Spirit' that all the players can identify with. And then that style of rugby can start to spread downwards throughout the country."

[edit] Trivia

He speaks fluent Italian and is married to an Italian lady with three children. He also speaks passable Japanese.

He is a public figure in New Zealand for the awareness of mental illness. His name appears in New Zealand English where depression may be called "a case of the Kirwans".

Kirwan scored 67 tries in all matches for the New Zealand All Blacks which is the current record

His 199 first class tries is also a record for New Zealand first class rugby.

[edit] External links

John Kirwan at AllBlacks.com
Italian coach Kirwan leaves post BBC News
Kirwan named as new Japan coach BBC News
JRFU official report of Kirwan's appointment - October 25, 2006
New Japan coach Kirwan looking for 'Samurai Spirit', Daily Yomiuri, October 27, 2006

v • d • e Italy squad - 2003 Rugby World Cup
Forwards:	Benatti • Bezzi • Ma Bergamasco • Bortolami • Castrogiovanni • Checchinato • Cicero • Dellapè • Festuccia • Martinez • Ongaro • Palmer • Parisse • Persico • Perugini • Phillips • Rossi
Backs:	Barbini • Mi Bergamasco • Canale • D.Dallan • M.Dallan • Masi • Mazzantini • Mazzariol • Mazzucato • Peens • Stoica • Troncon (c) • Wakarua
Coach:	Kirwan