David Kidwell

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David Kidwell (born April 23, 1977 in Christchurch, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby league player in the National Rugby League competition. In 2006 Kidwell signed a pre-contract agreement to represent the South Sydney Rabbitohs until 2009. Kidwell has previously played for the Melbourne Storm,Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels and the Adelaide Rams.

He has also represented the New Zealand national rugby league team on 19 occasions, most recently in the Tri Nations tournament held in New Zealand in October 2006. His position of choice is in the second row though he has also previously played as a centre.

[edit] Controversy

When playing against Australia in the Tri Nations tournament on Sat. 14th October 2006, Kidwell shoulder-charged (a legal tackle in Rugby League) Australian prop Willie Mason, temporarily downing the giant Canterbury Bulldogs forward and bruising his eye socket. Press speculation was that the tackle was in direct retribution for Mason's behaviour during the New Zealand team performance of the Haka at the beginning of the match. Kidwell denied this claim and suggested that he did not see nor hear Mason's verbal abuse during the performance of the Haka.

[edit] Career highlights

Junior Club: Hornby Panthers (Christchurch)
First Grade Debut: Round 17, Adelaide v Canberra at Canberra Stadium, August 17, 1997
Career Stats: 145 career games to date scoring 27 tries