Phil Waugh
Encyclopedia
Phillip Waugh is an Australian rugby union
player, widely regarded as one of the world's leading flankers
.
His career as a player began at the Shore School, Captaining the school's team in 1997. After his performance in this team he was selected to represent Australia in the 1997 Schoolboy's Team.
Waugh's campaign continued in 1998, as he was named in the Australian under 19's Rugby team, and subsequently the under 21's from 1999 to 2000.
His professional career began in 2000, where he was named in the Wallabies test squad, and was played as a replacement in a match against England. Waugh continued receiving game time with the team until early 2002, when an ankle injury caused him to miss out on the international season.
After his recovery, Phil returned to the field to be named vice captain of the 2003 Rugby World Cup
team, who were ultimately runners-up. He was rewarded for his performance in 2003 by winning the John Eales Medal
for the Wallabies Best and Fairest Player, and was regarded by some as one of Australia's best loose forwards.
Despite being named Captain of the Waratahs
in 2007, he was injured for most of the Super 14
season. Rocky Elsom
and Adam Freier
deputised in his absence. During the 2008 Super 14 season Phil Waugh led the Waratahs from second last (2007 result) to second on the ladder.
Despite being an international quality openside flanker, Waugh has had to spend the majority of his career as a backup to the champion no. 7 George Smith
. His situation has been almost a mirror of Stuart MacGill
's career in the shadows of Shane Warne
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player, widely regarded as one of the world's leading flankers
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
.
His career as a player began at the Shore School, Captaining the school's team in 1997. After his performance in this team he was selected to represent Australia in the 1997 Schoolboy's Team.
Waugh's campaign continued in 1998, as he was named in the Australian under 19's Rugby team, and subsequently the under 21's from 1999 to 2000.
His professional career began in 2000, where he was named in the Wallabies test squad, and was played as a replacement in a match against England. Waugh continued receiving game time with the team until early 2002, when an ankle injury caused him to miss out on the international season.
After his recovery, Phil returned to the field to be named vice captain of the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
team, who were ultimately runners-up. He was rewarded for his performance in 2003 by winning the John Eales Medal
John Eales Medal
The John Eales Medal is awarded to honour the best Australian rugby union player each year. The medal, which was launched in 2002, is jointly awarded each year by the Australian Rugby Union and the Rugby Union Players Association....
for the Wallabies Best and Fairest Player, and was regarded by some as one of Australia's best loose forwards.
Despite being named Captain of the Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
in 2007, he was injured for most of the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
season. Rocky Elsom
Rocky Elsom
Rocky Elsom is a former captain of the Australia national rugby union team. Raised in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Elsom is one of Australia's most decorated Rugby players. Elsom has played over 50 times for Australia and has over 80 Super rugby caps with the Waratahs 2003–08 and the...
and Adam Freier
Adam Freier
Adam Freier is a rugby union footballer. He most recently played for the New South Wales Waratahs in the international Super 14 competition. His usual position is at hooker...
deputised in his absence. During the 2008 Super 14 season Phil Waugh led the Waratahs from second last (2007 result) to second on the ladder.
Despite being an international quality openside flanker, Waugh has had to spend the majority of his career as a backup to the champion no. 7 George Smith
George Smith (rugby player)
George Smith is an Australian rugby union player. He is a flanker for Toulon. He won 110 caps for Australia before retiring from international rugby on 5 February 2010. He made his Test debut in 2000 against France in Paris and he is the most capped Wallaby forward, and the most capped flanker in...
. His situation has been almost a mirror of Stuart MacGill
Stuart MacGill
Stuart Charles Glyndwr MacGill is a former right-arm leg spin bowler of the Australian cricket team, with a domestic career at Western Australia, New South Wales, Nottinghamshire, Devon and Somerset...
's career in the shadows of Shane Warne
Shane Warne
Shane Keith Warne is a former Australian international cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century, the only specialist bowler selected in the quintet...
.
Honours
- 2010 Waratahs Best forward award
- 2009 Waratahs Best forward award
- 2008 Waratahs Best Forward award
- 2004 Matthew Burke Cup – Waratahs Players’ Player
- 2003 John Eales MedalJohn Eales MedalThe John Eales Medal is awarded to honour the best Australian rugby union player each year. The medal, which was launched in 2002, is jointly awarded each year by the Australian Rugby Union and the Rugby Union Players Association....
See also
- Wallabies
- Waratahs
- Rugby Union World Cup
- Australian Rugby ShieldAustralian Rugby ShieldThe Australian Rugby Shield is a national Rugby union competition intended to unearth new talent and foster rugby union development outside the traditional Rugby states New South Wales and Queensland....
- Wallaby Team of the DecadeWallaby Team of the DecadeTo celebrate 10 years of professional rugby union, Australian Rugby celebrated the occasion with the announcement in 2005 of the Wallaby Team of the Decade...