Full name | John James Patrick Kirwan | ||||||||||||||||
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Nickname | JK | ||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 16 December 1964 | ||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||
Weight | 100 kg (15 st 10 lb) | ||||||||||||||||
School | De La Salle College | ||||||||||||||||
Spouse | Fiorella Kirwan | ||||||||||||||||
Children | Francesca, Niko and Luca, plus one other girl from a previous relationship. | ||||||||||||||||
Occupation(s) | Rugby union coach | ||||||||||||||||
Rugby league career | |||||||||||||||||
Position | Wing | ||||||||||||||||
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Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
Playing career | |||||||||||||||||
Position | Wing | ||||||||||||||||
New Zealand No. | 854 | ||||||||||||||||
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Professional clubs | |||
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Years | Club / team | Apps | (points) |
1995–96 | Auckland Warriors | 35 | (52) |
Professional / senior clubs | |||
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Years | Club / team | Apps | (points) |
1983–94 1985–89 1989–90 1997–99 |
Marist Treviso Thiene NEC |
60 |
(184) |
Provincial/State sides | |||
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Years | Club / team | Apps | (points) |
1983–94 | Auckland | 142 |
National team(s) | |||
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Years | Club / team | Apps | (points) |
1984–94 | New Zealand | 63 | (143) |
Coaching career | |||
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Years | Club / team | ||
1999–2001 2001 2001–02 2002–05 2007–11 2012 2013–15 |
NEC Blues (assistant) Italy (assistant) Italy Japan Barbarians Blues |
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Correct as of 18 November 2013
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Sir John James Patrick Kirwan KNZM MBE (born 16 December 1964) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player of both rugby union and rugby league.
He scored 35 tries in 63 tests for New Zealand, making him one of the highest try scorers in international rugby union history, and was part of the New Zealand team that won the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. He also played rugby league for the Auckland Warriors in their first two seasons. He is the former head coach of the Blues in Super Rugby, and the Japan and Italy national teams.
In recent years, he has spoken openly about his battles with depression and been honoured for his services to mental health.
A grandson of Jack Kirwan, who represented New Zealand in rugby league, John Kirwan was educated at De La Salle College, Mangere East in Auckland.
Kirwan played for Marist Brothers Old Boys RFC and Auckland domestically, winning 142 caps with the latter during an era when the side dominated the NPC and Ranfurly Shield.