Matt Giteau

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Matt Giteau (born on September 29, 1982 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian rugby union footballer playing for the Western Force. Matt went to St Edmund's College, Canberra, which has produced many Wallabies such as George Gregan, Matt Henjak and the former rugby league star and now coach Ricky Stuart. He has so far gained 40 Super 14 caps and 50 Test caps.

Matt's main positions are at inside centre and fly-half although he started as a scrum half. Since his Australian debut at Twickenham in 2002 Giteau has risen to the top of International Rugby - he was named as one of the 5 best players in the World in 2004. In 2006 Giteau signed a three year deal with Perth's Super 14 team, Western Force, for a reported A$4.5 million (A$1.5 million per season).

[edit] Career

[edit] 2002-03

After not being used off the bench in an away Test against Ireland, Giteau made his international debut for Australia against England on 16th November, 2002 at Twickenham aged 20, notably before appearing in a Brumbies match in the Super 12 tournament. He was again capped in the subsequent match against Italy. Giteau joined the Super 14 side ACT Brumbies in 2003 and by the end of 2004 was rated as one of the best five rugby players in the world. In 2003 he appeared off the bench two more times prior to the 2003 Rugby World Cup which was also being hosted by Australia. He played in the matches against the All Blacks and South Africa. Gitaeu was included in the Wallabies' World Cup squad, and played in the first match of the tournament against the Pumas. He was then capped against Romania, in which he scored his first Test try. In the following game against Namibia, he scored a hattrick of tries, in his first game in the starting lineup. He was capped twice more during the tournament, and was used as a replacement in the final against England in Sydney.

[edit] 2004-05

The following year Giteau had become a permanent part of the Wallabies' starting lineup, and was capped three times in June, in Tests against Scotand, England and the Pacfic Islands. He scored three tries from the three Tests; one against Scotland and two against the Pacfic Islands. During the 2004 Tri Nations Series he also took on kicking roles, booting 10 goals during the tournament. He was capped another four times during the November tour to Europe. In 2005 he played against Samoa, Italy and France in the lead up to the 2005 Tri Nations Series. He was also a part of the unsuccessful tour to Europe in late 2005, playing in the losses to both England and France.

[edit] 2006-present

In April 2006 he announced that he would play for Western Force in the 2007 season. He was included in the Wallabies' 2006 mid-year rugby tests squad, but was ruled out with an injury. However he recovered in time for the 2006 Tri Nations Series. He came off the bench in the first Test against the All Blacks at Jade Stadium, which they lost 32 to 12. He was back in the starting lineup for the first Test against South Africa in Brisbane, in which the Wallabies ran out 49 to nil winners. Giteau scored two tries, one of which would go onto to earn him the Suncorp Try of the Year award at the John Eales Medal dinner.^[1] He is the first back to be awarded the medal. He started the remaining games in the series, except for the final match against the Springboks in Johannesburg, in which he did not play. Giteau played half-back in the first test of the Wallabies spring tour against Wales, and by all accounts was a huge success. He was named in the Wallabies 2007 Rugby World Cup squad.

[edit] Personal life

Matt Giteau's Father and Mother both hail from Australia - however one half of his Grand Parents come from France - hence the name Giteau.

Giteau's senior club is The Canberra Vikings, the place where he attended school at St Edmund's College, Canberra. Giteau's sister Kristy has also represented Australia, in rugby union and rugby league. He is the son of former Canberra Raiders captain, Ron Giteau.

"I don't consider myself a celebrity," he said. "And I've got a great family that makes sure it stays that way. It doesn't matter if I'm playing union for Australia, they still reckon I'm not good enough to play reserve grade in rugby league."

Matt also wants to promote a stand off, flanker, number 8 and an inside centre who all live in dunbar.

Matt is currently dating Australian Netball Star Bianca Franklin and they have been since 2003.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Western Force profile
• Wallabies profile
• Player profile
• Matt Giteau at Rugby-Heros.net