Wendell Sailor facts for kids
.jpg) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Personal information
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Wendell Jermaine Sailor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 16 July 1974 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Playing information
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 106 kg (234 lb; 16 st 10 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rugby league
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rugby union
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Tristan Sailor (son) Dane Gagai (cousin) Jacob Gagai (cousin) Josh Hoffman (cousin) Travis Waddell (cousin) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wendell Jermaine Sailor (born 16 July 1974) is a famous Australian former professional rugby football player. He is known for playing for his country in both rugby league and rugby union. This makes him a "dual code international" – someone who has played at the highest level in two different types of rugby.
In rugby league, Sailor was a key player for the successful Brisbane Broncos team in the 1990s. He helped them win championships in 1993, 1997, 1998, and 2000. He played as a winger, known for his strong running and scoring many tries. He also played for Queensland in the State of Origin series and for Australia (the Kangaroos) 16 times. He was a top try-scorer and the best player at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.
In 2001, he switched to rugby union, playing for the Queensland Reds and later the New South Wales Waratahs. He played for Australia (the Wallabies) 37 times, including the 2003 Rugby World Cup final. His rugby union career ended in 2006.
He returned to rugby league in 2008 with the St. George Illawarra Dragons and played for two seasons before retiring. After his playing career, Sailor became a television presenter and appeared on reality TV shows.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Wendell Sailor was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His family has roots from the Solomon Islands and the West Indies.
Sailor grew up in Sarina, Queensland with his adoptive parents. His adoptive father is a Torres Strait Islander.
Playing Career Highlights
Rugby League: 1993–2001
Wendell Sailor started his professional career with the Brisbane Broncos in 1993. He scored three tries in his first season. Even though he played a limited number of games, the Broncos won the championship that year. He was named the Broncos' Rookie of the Year.
In his second season, Sailor scored 14 tries. He quickly became a regular player for the Broncos. Fans in Brisbane loved his speed and power. He became a well-known name in rugby league.
- 1994 Season: Sailor played for the Broncos when they hosted British champions Wigan Warriors in the 1994 World Club Challenge. He was also chosen for the 1994 Kangaroo Tour of Europe. He scored two tries against Cumbria and earned his first Test cap for Australia against Great Britain.
- Super League Era: In 1995, Sailor and his Broncos teammates joined the Super League. This meant he could not play in the 1995 State of Origin series or the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. In 1996, he made his debut for the Queensland Maroons in the 1996 State of Origin series.
- 1997 Success: In 1997, Sailor was the top try-scorer for the Broncos. He helped them win the 1997 World Club Championship and the Super League championship. After this, he played for Australia in all three matches of the Super League Test series against Great Britain.
- NRL Championship: After the Super League era ended, the Broncos won the first National Rugby League championship in 1998. Sailor scored a try in their 38–12 win over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the 1998 NRL grand final.
- Time in England: During the Australian summer of 1998, Sailor played rugby union for Leeds Tykes in England. He scored 15 tries in 13 games. The Wigan Warriors rugby league club tried to sign him, but he stayed with the Broncos.
- More Success: In 1999, Sailor was named man-of-the-match in the deciding game of the 1999 State of Origin series. This helped Queensland keep the shield. He also scored the winning try for Australia against New Zealand in the 1999 Tri-nations final.
- 2000 Season: In 2000, Sailor was again the Broncos' top try-scorer. He played on the wing and scored a try in their 2000 NRL grand final win over the Sydney Roosters. He was named the Broncos' Player of the Year and Best Back. He also received the Australian Sports Medal.
- World Cup Victory: Sailor traveled to Europe for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup with Australia. He was the top try-scorer of the tournament. He scored two tries in the final victory over the Kiwis. He was named the best player of the tournament.
After the World Cup, many thought Sailor might move to a club in the Super League. However, he decided to switch to rugby union. He became the first Australian Test rugby league player to move to the 15-man game in many years. Sailor ran more metres with the ball than any other player in the 2001 NRL season.
Sailor is one of the few players to score over 100 tries for the Broncos. He also holds the record for most tries in a Broncos match, with four. In 2007, the Broncos named him one of their 20 best players ever.
Rugby Union: 2001–2006
On 7 February 2001, Wendell Sailor announced he would switch to rugby union. He signed with the Australian Rugby Union and the Queensland Reds. He scored his first tries in the Super 12 in his seventh match, scoring twice.
Sailor made his debut for the Wallabies in June 2002. This was against France, alongside former rugby league teammate Mat Rogers. They became the 41st and 42nd Australians to play at the highest level in both rugby codes. Sailor also wrote a book called Crossing Over. It talks about his experiences changing between the two sports.
In 2003, Sailor was chosen for the Wallabies to play in the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup. He scored the first try of the tournament in the opening match against Argentina. Sailor played in several games during the World Cup, including the final.
After the 2005 Super 12 season, Sailor left the Reds. He then signed with the New South Wales Waratahs for the 2006 season. The Waratahs won their first game of the 2006 season against Queensland. His rugby union career ended in 2006.
Rugby League Comeback: 2008–2009
After his time in rugby union, Sailor appeared on the TV show Dancing with the Stars. He also worked as a commentator for Channel Nine's NRL coverage.
In June 2007, it was announced that Sailor would join the St. George Illawarra Dragons for two years. This was after his break from rugby ended in April 2008. Many former NRL players thought this was a good move for the Dragons. On 12 May 2008, Sailor officially started his contract with the Dragons.
Sailor returned to rugby league by playing for the Shellharbour Marlins. This was a team linked to the Dragons. On 17 May, he scored two tries for Shellharbour. He played there for two more weeks before joining the Dragons' NRL team. On 6 June, Sailor made his NRL comeback against his old club, the Brisbane Broncos.
Sailor played more games for the Dragons and also for the Burleigh Bears. He scored his first NRL try since 2001 against the Brisbane Broncos. He later scored three tries in the Dragons' 40–14 win over the Eels.
For the 2009 NRL season, Sailor was reunited with his old coach, Wayne Bennett. Bennett had coached him at the Brisbane Broncos. Sailor was an important player for the Dragons. He helped them finish first in the regular season and win the Minor Premiership. He was also nominated for the Dally M Winger of the Year award.
Wendell Sailor announced his retirement on 12 November 2009, at 35 years old. His final game for the Dragons was against his old team, the Broncos, at Suncorp Stadium.
Sailor's very last match was the 2010 All Stars game for the Indigenous team. He scored the first try of the game. He celebrated by pretending to play the corner post like a didgeridoo, with his teammates dancing.
Television Career
.jpg)
Sailor was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars in 2006. In 2010, he became a regular panelist on Channel Nine's The NRL Footy Show. He was also a contestant on Australia's Greatest Athlete.
In 2011, he became a co-host for Channel Seven's Australia's Greatest Athlete. He also joined Foxtel's NRL on FOX as a panelist. In 2011, Sailor took part in The Celebrity Apprentice Australia. In 2012, he appeared on Channel Ten's Breakfast show.
On 11 June 2015, Sailor appeared on The NRL Footy Show. He competed in an 'Iron Arm Challenge' to raise money for charity.
In 2018, Sailor was a sideline reporter for the sports show Australian Spartan. In 2019, he appeared as 'the Rhino' on the first season of The Masked Singer Australia.
See Also
- List of players who have converted from one football code to another
Images for kids
-
In Spanish: Wendell Sailor para niños
