David Campese facts for kids

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David Campese
AM

Campese in Fiji, March 2020

Birth name

David Ian Campese

Date of birth

21 October 1962 (age 62)

Place of birth

Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia

Height

180 cm (5 ft 11 in)

Weight

89 kg (196 lb)

Notable relative(s)

Terry Campese (nephew)

Rugby union career

Amateur team(s)
Position(s)	Wing, Fullback
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
1981–1985	Australian Capital Territory		()
1982–1986	Queanbeyan Whites		()
1987–1998	Randwick		()
Senior career
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
1984–1988	Petrarca Padova		()
1988–1993	Amatori Rugby Milano		()
Provincial / State sides
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
1987–1998	New South Wales	34	(84)
Super Rugby
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
1996–1998	New South Wales Waratahs	22	(30)
National team(s)
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
1982–1996	Australia	101	(320)
National sevens team(s)
Years	Team		Comps
1983–1998	Australia
Teams coached
Years	Team
1998	Singapore
2005–2007	Sharks (assistant coach)
2010	Tonga sevens

David Ian Campese, also known as Campo, is a famous former Australian rugby union player. He played for the Wallabies 101 times between 1982 and 1996. He was known for his amazing speed and a special move called the "goose-step."

After retiring in 1996, David was honored with the Order of Australia in 2002 for his great contributions to Australian rugby. Today, he works as a sports commentator and a guest speaker. He also represents several big companies.

David Campese's Rugby Journey

David Campese started playing for the Wallabies in 1982. He quickly showed his talent by scoring tries in his first two international games. In 1983, he scored four tries in one game against the USA, which was an Australian record at the time.

Grand Slam and World Cup Wins

In 1984, Campese was part of the Wallabies team that achieved the "Grand Slam." This meant they beat all four major rugby teams from the UK and Ireland on one tour. It was the first time an Australian team had done this.

He also played in the first ever 1987 Rugby World Cup. During this tournament, he broke the world record for the most tries scored by an international rugby player.

One of his biggest achievements was winning the 1991 Rugby World Cup with the Wallabies. He was the top try-scorer in that tournament with six tries and was named the "Player of the Tournament."

Records and Retirement

Campese won the Bledisloe Cup (a trophy played between Australia and New Zealand) three times with the Wallabies. In 1992, he scored his 50th international try against South Africa.

In 1996, he made history by becoming the first Australian rugby player to play 100 Test matches. He retired from international rugby later that year, having played 101 Tests and scored a world-record 64 tries. This record has since been broken by other players.

Playing for States and Clubs

At a state level, Campese played for both the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. He scored five tries for New South Wales in a big win against Wales in 1991.

For clubs, he played for the Queanbeyan Whites and Randwick. He won many championships with both clubs, including three in a row with Queanbeyan Whites and eight with Randwick.

Campese also played rugby in Italy for nine years. He won the Italian Championship five times with two different teams: Petrarca Padova and Amatori.

Early Life and Rugby Beginnings

David Campese was born on October 21, 1962, in Queanbeyan, New South Wales. He grew up with two sisters and one brother. His family lived in Italy for a short time before returning to Queanbeyan.

He played rugby league when he was younger. At 16, he even stopped playing rugby to focus on golf, winning a school golf title.

Campese started playing rugby union in 1979 for the Queanbeyan Whites. By 1980, he was playing in the top team. In 1981, he was chosen for the Australian Under-21 squad.

International Test Matches

David Campese's international career was full of memorable moments.

1982: Wallabies Debut

Campese joined the Wallabies tour to New Zealand in 1982. He made his Test debut against New Zealand on September 11, 1982. He played a key role in the team's scoring, helping them set a new record for points scored on a New Zealand tour.

1983: Record-Breaking Tries

In 1983, Campese scored four tries in one game against the USA, matching an Australian record. He also played well against Argentina, scoring two tries, four conversions, and a penalty goal in a win for his ACT team.

1984: The Grand Slam Tour

Campese was a vital part of the 1984 Wallabies team that achieved the "Grand Slam" in Britain and Ireland. He played in all four Test matches against England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. He scored six tries on the tour, more than any other Australian player.

1986: Beating the All Blacks

Campese was part of the Australian team that defeated the All Blacks in New Zealand in a Test series in 1986. This was a rare achievement for any visiting team.

1987: Rugby World Cup Debut

The first-ever Rugby World Cup in 1987 was a big event. Campese played through the tournament despite an injury. In the semi-final against France, he scored his 25th Test try, breaking the world record for most international tries.

1988: European Tour Success

On the 1988 tour of England, Scotland, and Italy, Campese scored 15 tries. He was praised by critics for his excellent form. In a game against the Barbarians, he scored a try that he described as his best in international rugby.

1989: "Campo's Corner"

In a famous series against the British Lions in 1989, Campese made a well-known mistake called "Campo's Corner." Despite this, he continued to show his skill, like when he set up a try for Tim Horan against France later that year.

Tim Horan confused the words "Nice" and "niece".

1990: Most Capped Australian

In 1990, Campese played his 52nd Test for Australia, becoming the most-capped Australian rugby player in history.

1991: World Cup Champion

The 1991 Rugby World Cup was a highlight of Campese's career. His performance in the semi-final against New Zealand is often called his best. He was named "Player of the Tournament" and was the equal top try-scorer. Many experts said his genius helped Australia become world champions.

1992-1993: More Milestones

In 1992, Campese became the first Australian to play 70 Test matches and the first rugby player to score 50 tries. In 1993, he played a key role in a series win against South Africa, earning him the "man of the match" award in the final game.

1994-1995: Final World Cup and Lomu Encounter

Campese played in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. In a game against New Zealand, he faced the legendary Jonah Lomu. Campese managed to tackle Lomu once, a moment he remembered fondly. This was his last Test in the amateur era of rugby.

1996: 100 Tests and Retirement

In 1996, Campese played his 100th international Test match against Italy. He was only the second player in the world to reach this milestone. He scored his 64th and final international try against Canada. His last Test match for Australia was against Wales in December 1996. He received a standing ovation from the crowd, marking the end of his amazing international career.

Rugby Sevens Career

David Campese was also a highly skilled rugby sevens player, a faster version of rugby union. Many consider him one of the best sevens players ever.

Hong Kong Sevens Success

He played in the famous Hong Kong Sevens tournament 12 times. He helped Australia win the tournament three times (1983, 1985, and 1988). In 1988, he was named the "Player of the Tournament." In 2015, he was recognized as one of the "Hong Kong Magnificent Sevens," honoring the best players in the tournament's history.

Other Sevens Highlights

In 1990, Campese played for his club Randwick in the 100th Melrose Sevens tournament in Scotland. Randwick won the tournament, and Campese was a key player, scoring 44 points.

He also played in the first 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament, where his Australian team reached the final. In 1998, he captained Australia to a bronze medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in rugby sevens, which was his final sevens game for Australia.

Offers to Play Rugby League

Throughout his career, David Campese received many offers to switch from rugby union to rugby league. Several big rugby league clubs, like the Canberra Raiders and Parramatta Eels, tried to sign him.

In 1988, a club in England, St Helens, offered him a very large sum of money to play rugby league. However, Campese always chose to stay in rugby union. Many people in the rugby world are grateful that he never switched codes.

Legacy and Awards

David Campese is considered one of the greatest rugby union players of all time.

In 1989, he was chosen for the "Team of the Decade" in the Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook.
In 1997, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
In 1999, Australia Post released collectible stamps featuring Campese.
He received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and the Centenary Medal in 2001.
In 2001, famous rugby commentator Bill McLaren named Campese his favorite player and the greatest rugby union player ever.
In 2002, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia.
In 2007, he was honored in the Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame.
In 2013, he was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame.
Also in 2013, Inside Rugby magazine named him one of the four Australian "Invincibles," a special honor for the best players in Australian rugby union history.

Images for kids

Campese in Fiji, March 2020
Tim Horan confused the words "Nice" and "niece".