- Stirling Mortlock
Rugger
name = Stirling Mortlock
caption = Mortlock kicks a successful conversion for the Brumbies
birthname = Stirling Austin Mortlock
nickname = Stirlo, Snorky
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1977|5|20|df=y
placeofbirth =Sydney, New South Wales ,Australia
height = convert|191|cm|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|105|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position = Centre
ru_nationalteam = Australia
ru_nationalyears = 2000-present
ru_nationalcaps = 66
ru_nationalpoints = (478)
ru_ntupdate = 2006
super14 = Brumbies
super14years = 1998-present
super14caps = 101
super14points = (840)
ru_currentclub =Gordon Rugby Club
super14update = 2006
other =
relatives =
school =
university =Stirling Austin Mortlock (born 20 May 1977 in Sydney) is a professional
rugby union player. He is the current Australian Wallabies andACT Brumbies Captain.Early life
Mortlock began playing rugby with Lindfield Juniors [ [http://www.lindfieldrugbyclub.com/history.htm :: Lindfield Rugby Club >> LRC History ] ] . Mortlock was educated at King's School in
Parramatta , Sydney. He represented Gordon Juniors at Colt level and still represents Gordon at club level today. [http://www.brumbies.com.au/act.rugby/page/50589 Brumbies Rugby | Mortlock, Stirling ] ] He represented Australia at Under 19 and Under 21 level before pursuing a professional career with the Brumbies.Professional career
Brumbies career
In 1998, Stirling joined the ACT Brumbies. Mortlock succeeded
George Gregan as ACT Brumbies Captain in 2004 and played every game that season except the final due to injury and thus was unable to lead the team to claim theSuper 12 title that year. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10501937&ref=rss Rugby: Mortlock the heartbreak king - 04 Apr 2008 - NZ Herald: Rugby news and coverage from New Zealand and around the World ] ]Wallabies career
Then Wallaby coach
Rod McQueen plucked Mortlock out of club rugby at the young age of 20 to tour Argentina with the Wallabies in 1997.In 2000, Stirling made his Test debut v Argentina.
The year 2000, was a landmark year for Stirling - he became the fastest Australian to reach 50 and 100 Test points, he scored the most points and highest number of penalties [16] by any Australian in his first five Tests and created history by becoming the first Australian to score 20 points or more in four consecutive Tests. With the Wallaby team, Mortlock was instrumental in the famous Bledisloe and Tri-Nation Series' Victories of 2000 - he will be remembered for his sideline penalty goal in 2000 against South Africa in
Durban to win Australia's first Tri Nations crown. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/896976.stm BBC SPORT | RUGBY UNION | Stirling kick seals Tri-Nations ] ]A noted performance was his his man-of-the-match performance and his 80-metre intercept try at the then Telstra Stadium to help knock the
All Blacks out of the2003 Rugby World Cup semi final. [http://www.rugby.com.au/players/wallabies/2007_squad/2007_rwc_squad/mortlock_stirling,62583.html rugby.com.au | ] ]In 2006, Mortlock was passed the honour of becoming the 73rd player to captain the Wallabies. In 2007, Mortlock was made co-captain with
Phil Waugh . [ [http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200705/s1927841.htm ABC Sport - Rugby Union - Gregan's captaincy axing confirmed ] ]In 2007, he celebrated his 50th Test against the Springboks in Johannesburg, played an instrumental role in the Wallabies 20-15 upset over the All Blacks at the MCG, setting up
Scott Staniforth for the match-winning try that was ultimately judged Try of the Year at the annual John Eales Medal dinner. Fact|date=April 2008Mortlock received his greatest honour when he was asked to captain the Wallabies at the
2007 Rugby World Cup in France.In February 2008, Mortlock announced that he will continue playing with the Wallabies until at least the end of 2010 knocking back sizable offers from overseas clubs. Australian Rugby Union CEO John O'Neill endorsed this decision saying that Mortlock is a "real captain courageous" and an "inspirational leader". [ [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23289909-23217,00.html Mortlock re-signs with ARU - Rugby - Fox Sports ] ]
Records
Mortlock's ability to score tries and kick goals has positioned him third on the all-time list of Australian Test point scorers (with 473 points) and he holds the mantle as the highest ACT Brumbies all-time point-scorer (with 875 points) & third highest Super point scorer of all time. Fact|date=April 2008
Mortlock is the sixth Brumby to reach over 100 caps. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10501937&pnum=2 Rugby: Mortlock the heartbreak king - 04 Apr 2008 - NZ Herald: Rugby news and coverage from New Zealand and around the World ] ]
References
External links
* http://www.stirlingmortlock.com
* [http://www.rugby.com.au/players/wallabies/2007_squad/2007_rwc_squad/mortlock_stirling,62583.html Wallabies profile]
* [http://www.rugbyfanz.com/Wiki.php?id=64 RugbyFanz Profile]
* [http://www.brumbies.com.au/act.rugby/page/50589 Brumbies profile]
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