David Peachey facts for kids
|
Personal information
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 21 April 1974 Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Playing information
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 90 kg (14 st 2 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Fullback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Tyrone Peachey (nephew) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
David Peachey (born 21 April 1974) is a former professional rugby league player from Australia. He played as a fullback in the 1990s and 2000s. David was known for his exciting style of play.
He represented both the Australian national team and the New South Wales team. Most of his club career was with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He also played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Australia and the Widnes Vikings in England. David Peachey is an Indigenous Australian. His nephew, Tyrone Peachey, also became a professional rugby league player.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Rugby
David Peachey was born in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. He started playing rugby league for his local junior club, the Dubbo Macquarie Raiders. He also played for South Dubbo High. After playing in the country for a few seasons, he joined the Cronulla Sharks.
Playing Career Highlights
Time with Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
David Peachey began his career with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in their reserve team. He quickly moved up to the main team because of his amazing performances. His first game in the top league was on 12 March 1994. It was against the Canberra Raiders at Toyota Park.
Over the next few years, David became a regular player for the Sharks. His unique running style and unexpected moments of brilliance excited fans. He quickly became a favorite player in the NRL. He played in important finals matches for Cronulla. This included the 1997 Super League Grand Final, which his team lost to Brisbane.
In 1999, David Peachey won the Dally M award for Fullback of the Year. That year, Cronulla finished first in the regular season. This was one of the club's best seasons ever. David also played in the preliminary final that year. In 2000, he was chosen to play for New South Wales in the 2000 State of Origin series. He scored a winning try in Game 1, but an injury kept him out of the rest of the series.
David continued to play in more preliminary finals for Cronulla. In 2001, he scored a try in a preliminary final loss against the Newcastle Knights. The next year, in 2002, he played in another preliminary final loss against the New Zealand Warriors.
In 2003, fans and rugby league experts named David Peachey as one of the top ten Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Legends. After 12 years with the club, he left the Sharks at the end of the 2005 season. After his last game, he stayed to sign autographs and take photos with fans, showing his appreciation.
Playing for Widnes Vikings
After leaving Cronulla, David Peachey decided to play overseas. He joined the Super League club, the Widnes Vikings, in England. The club faced financial difficulties, but fans helped raise money for him to join. However, his contract with the Widnes Vikings ended in May 2006.
Time with South Sydney Rabbitohs
In May 2006, David Peachey signed with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Australia. In only his second game for the club, he helped the Rabbitohs win a big game. They beat the second-placed Brisbane Broncos 34–14. This was a huge win, as the Rabbitohs had not won against the Broncos since 1989.
In 2007, David continued to play with great energy. His positive attitude helped his teammates and excited the fans. Even though he was 33 years old, he was keen to play another season. However, he announced his retirement from the NRL in July 2007. This decision helped the Rabbitohs manage their player salaries.
David Peachey played his final game in the 2007 NSWRL Premier League Grand Final. He played for the North Sydney Bears, who lost a very close game to Parramatta.
Representative Games
David Peachey also played for different representative teams:
- Country Origin: He played one game for Country Origin in 2003.
- State of Origin: He played one game for New South Wales in 2000.
- Australia: He played one game for his country in the Anzac Test Match (Super League) in 1997.
Life After Playing Rugby
David Peachey Foundation
David Peachey started the David Peachey Foundation. This foundation helps Indigenous children from rural areas who are good at rugby league. It provides small grants and support to help these children participate in sports. This support often includes financial help for children representing their state or country.
Community Work in Taupō
David Peachey was also involved in bringing NRL matches to Taupō, New Zealand. He spent six months living in Taupō, which is his wife's hometown. While there, he played club rugby league for the Taupo Phoenix.
Awards and Recognition
David Peachey received the Sportsperson of the Year Award at the 2003 NAIDOC Awards. In 2025, he was inducted into the Sharks Hall of Fame, recognizing his great career with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
