Phil Kearns

Phil Kearns
Full name Philip Nicholas Kearns
Date of birth (1967-06-27) 27 June 1967
Place of birth Sydney, Australia
School Newington College
University University of New South Wales
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Hooker
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
Randwick
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
NSW Waratahs 73[1]
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1989 - 1999  Australia 67 (34)

Philip Nicholas Kearns (born 27 June 1967) is a former Australian rugby union player. He represented Australia 67 times and was captain of on 10 occasions. He commentates on rugby for the Fox Sports TV channel.

He was born in Sydney Australia and educated at Newington College (1979–84)[2] 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. 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 fingered 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". He was a member of Australia's Rugby World Cup-winning teams of 1991 and 1999, becoming one of only twenty dual Rugby World Cup winners. Although he was injured mid-way through the 1999 tournament he is one of only six players to be twice involved in a World Cup-winning side. Retired since 1999, he now commentates on rugby for the Fox Sports TV channel.

In October 2005, Phil Kearns accidentally ran over his 19-month-old daughter, Andie, in the driveway of his home. After a long hospital stay, his daughter made a full recovery. Phil Kearns later launched a driveway safety campaign.[3][4]

Kearns is the brain behind the Sydney Charity Event, The Balmoral Burn. An annual run up one of Sydney’s steepest streets.

References

  1. http://www.nswrugby.com.au/MediaExtranet/News/2008/February/Freiersettocreatehistory.aspx
  2. Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 105
  3. Profile - Phil Kearns, Sydney Morning Herald, 19 May 2010
  4. Driveway safety a priority, says Kearns, Channel 9 news, 12 Jan 2006

External links


Preceded by
Michael Lynagh
Australian national rugby union captain
1992-1995
Succeeded by
Rod McCall
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