Phil Kearns

Philip Nicholas Kearns (27 June 1967 - ) is a former Australian Rugby Union player and national captain. He represented for the Wallabies 67 times and was captain of on 10 occasions.

He was born in Sydney Australia and educated at Newington College (1979-1984) [Newington College Register of Past Students 1863-1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 105] and the University of New South Wales where he graduated with a degree in Economics. He played his provincial rugby for New South Wales.

He made his Wallaby debut in 1989. A solid scrummager, accurate in his lineout throwing and good in the loose, he enjoyed a rivalry on the pitch with New Zealand's Sean Fitzpatrick. During one Bledisloe Cup match he scored a try by barging through Fitzpatrick and then made a two fingured gesture to him and saying something which most TV watchers thought they could lip read. Kearns insisted he said "Two sausages at tonight's barbecue please". The catalyst for this incident was from the previous season when Fitzpatrick sledged Kearns without mercy, telling him to "Go home to your Mummy". On the pitch the two were fiercely competitive but were known to host each other after matches.

He was a member of the Wallabies' Rugby World Cup winning teams of 1991 and 1999. Although he was injured mid-way through the 1999 tournament he is one of only six players to be twice involved in a winning side.

Retired since 1999 he now calls Rugby Tests as part of the Fox Sports commentary team.

Position: Hooker

External links

* [http://www.saxton.com.au/default.asp?sd8=881]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/andie-kearns-still-in-critical-condition/2005/10/23/1130005990472.html]
* [http://www.ovations.com.au/bios/PhilKearns.shtml]

References