Phil Kearns

Rugby Union

Phil Kearns was one of the best all round front-row forwards Australia has produced and the Wallabies' most capped hooker, playing 67 tests and captaining his country 10 times.

His days in the green and gold were cut short by injury during the successful 1999 World Cup campaign, but he retains the distinction of being one of the few Wallabies to have played in both World Cup winning sides of 1991 and 1999.

Kearns' international career began when Bob Dwyer plucked him from the obscurity of Randwick reserve grade to make his Test debut against the All Blacks at Eden Park in 1989. There began a rivalry with New Zealand and the All Blacks' hooker and captain Sean Fitzpatrick which defined his playing days. The highlight of his career was beating the All Blacks at the sold-out Olympic Stadium in Sydney to retain the Bledisloe Cup in 1999.

Kearns captained the Wallabies ten times, and enjoyed success with a series defeat over South Africa, and Test wins over New Zealand, Italy and Samoa.

He captained the NSW Waratahs and made 73 appearances for the state team.