George Gregan facts for kids
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| Date of birth | 19 April 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Lusaka, Zambia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 80 kg (176 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St Edmund's College, Canberra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Canberra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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George Musarurwa Gregan is a famous retired Australian rugby union player. He was a scrum-half, which is like the quarterback of a rugby team. George is known for being Australia's second most-capped international player, meaning he played in the second highest number of international matches for his country.
He played for the Brumbies team in the Super 12 (now Super Rugby) competition from 1996 to 2007. He helped his team win the championship in 2001 and 2004. George was also a key player for the Australian national team, the Wallabies. He led them to a Bledisloe Cup win in 2002. In 1999, he helped the Wallabies win the Rugby World Cup, which is the biggest prize in rugby!
Contents
Early Life and Family
George Gregan was born in Lusaka, Zambia, on April 19, 1973. His father was Australian and his mother was from Zimbabwe. When George was two years old, his family moved to Australia. He grew up in Canberra.
He went to St Edmund's College for his schooling. Later, he studied at the University of Canberra. He earned a degree in Physical Education there.
George is married to Erica, and they have three children named Max, Charlie, and Jazz. In 2004, their son Max was diagnosed with epilepsy. After seeing how many sick children and their parents needed help, George and Erica started the George Gregan Foundation in 2005. This foundation built playgrounds in hospitals and supported doctors who study brain conditions. It closed down in 2021 after helping many families.
Rugby Career Highlights
George Gregan played for Australia's younger rugby teams before joining the main national team. He played for the Under-19 and Under-21 teams.
Starting with the Wallabies (1994-1999)
George first played for the Wallabies in 1994. His first game was against Italy in Brisbane, which Australia won. He quickly became a regular player for the team.
In 1994, George made a very famous tackle against All Black player Jeff Wilson. This tackle saved a try and helped Australia win the Bledisloe Cup that year. It's still remembered as one of the best moments in the rivalry between Australia and New Zealand.
After the 1995 World Cup, rugby became a professional sport. This led to the creation of the Super 12 competition. George became one of the first players for the ACT Brumbies team. He also played in the first ever Tri Nations Series in 1996, which is a tournament between Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
In 1997, George became the vice-captain of the Wallabies. He played in every match during the 1999 Tri Nations Series. The Wallabies were strong contenders for the 1999 Rugby World Cup held in Wales. Australia won all their pool games. George played in the matches against Romania and Ireland.
The Wallabies then beat hosts Wales in the quarter-finals. George scored a try in that game. They went on to defeat the defending champions, South Africa, in the semi-finals. In the final, Australia beat France 35 to 12, becoming World Champions for the second time!
Leading the Wallabies (2001-2005)
After the legendary John Eales retired in 2001, George Gregan became the captain of the Wallabies. He was a clear choice because he was already the vice-captain and always played for the national team.
George played in all six of Australia's matches at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He scored a drop goal against Ireland in the pool stages. He also scored a try against Scotland in the quarter-finals. George led the Wallabies to a big win over the All Blacks in the semi-final. However, Australia lost to England in the final.
After the World Cup, George led the Wallabies on a great winning streak in 2004. They beat Scotland twice. They also got revenge on England, beating them 51 to 15 in Brisbane. In 2004, Australia only lost three matches under George's leadership.
In July 2004, George played his 100th match for the Wallabies against South Africa. This was a huge milestone in his career.
George broke his leg during a game in the 2005 Super 12 season. He missed some games but returned to play for Australia later that year. In November 2005, he played his 115th international match against France. This made him the most-capped player for a national team in Test rugby, breaking the record held by England's Jason Leonard.
Later Career and Retirement (2006-2012)
In June 2006, George played his 120th international match, setting a new world record. He also broke John Eales' record for most games as captain of Australia, leading the team 56 times.
In March 2007, a French rugby club called Toulon announced that George would join them after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
George played his last home game for the Brumbies on April 28, 2007. It was also the last home game for his longtime teammate Stephen Larkham. To honor them, a stand at Canberra Stadium was named the Gregan - Larkham Grandstand.
George was still part of the Wallabies squad for the 2007 World Cup. He was named a vice-captain. In a match against Fiji, he equaled the record for captaining an international team 59 times.
After playing in France, George joined Suntory Sungoliath in Japan in 2008. He played there until 2011.
Life After Playing Rugby
After retiring from playing, George Gregan became an assistant coach for the Brumbies in 2012. In 2014, he joined the Fox-Sports Rugby commentator team. He works alongside his former Wallabies teammate John Eales.
George and his wife also started a coffee shop business called GG's Espresso in 1999. They now have several cafes across Sydney and Brisbane. This business is part of a larger food and hospitality company called The Gregan Group.
Achievements and Awards
George Gregan has won many awards and honors throughout his career:
- For the Brumbies
- Super Rugby Champion: 2001, 2004
- For Toulon
- Rugby Pro D2 Champion (French second division): 2007–08
- For Suntory Sungoliath
- All-Japan Rugby Football Championship Winner: 2010–11
- For Australia
- Rugby World Cup Winner: 1999
- Tri-Nations Winner: 2000, 2001
- Bledisloe Cup Winner: 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
- General Honors
- He was given the Order of Australia in June 2004 for his great contributions to Rugby Union Football, especially as the captain of the Wallabies.
- He was added to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2009.
- He was also inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2013.
- He is an original member of the University of Canberra Sport Walk of Fame.
See also
- List of rugby union Test caps leaders
- Top League Japan rugby
- Wallaby Team of the Decade
- In Spanish: George Gregan para niños
