John Kirwan (rugby)

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. Kirwan is the former head coach of the Blues in Super Rugby, with a playing career that featured 35 tries in 63 tests for New Zealand, Kirwan is one of the highest try scorers in international rugby union history. He also played for the Auckland Warriors in their first two seasons.

Background

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.

Playing career

Rugby union

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.

From 1985 to 1989 he played in Italy, at Benetton Treviso. He finished his rugby union playing career with NEC in Japan.

Kirwan made 63 test matches as an All Black from 1984 until 1994. Kirwan played a major role in the All Blacks’ 23 test unbeaten run from 1987 to 1990, scoring 10 tries in five tests against Wales and Australia during 1988. In all he scored 35 test tries for the All Blacks, and 67 tries in total for appearances with the All Blacks, the latter which continues to be the New Zealand record. His total of 199 first class tries remains a New Zealand record.

Jack Kirwan

John Henry Kirwan (9 February 1878, County Wicklow, Ireland – 9 January 1959, London, UK), commonly referred to as John Kirwan or Jack Kirwan, is a former Irish footballer and coach. As a football player, he was described as an out and out winger with good pace and skills, playing as an outside-left for, among others, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Ireland. He had previously played gaelic football for Dublin. As a football coach he became the first professional manager of Dutch side Ajax. He was the last survivor of the Tottenham team that won the 1901 FA Cup.

Playing career

Early years

Kirwan initially played Gaelic football for Dublin and won an All-Ireland medal with Dublin in 1894 when they defeated Cork by 1–2 to 0–5 after a replay. Although both the final and the replay finished level, Dublin were awarded the cup. He then played soccer joined Southport Central of the Lancashire League where he attracted the attentions of both Everton and Blackburn Rovers. He opted to sign for Everton in July 1898 and was subsequently used to replace John Cameron who had been sold to Tottenham Hotspur. He made his league debut for Everton against Preston N.E. in September 1898. During his one season at the club he made 24 league appearances and scored 5 goals. He also played a further 2 games in the FA Cup. While at Everton his team-mates included among others Samuel Wolstenholme.

John Kirwan

John Kirwan may refer to:

John Kirwan (cricketer)

John Henry Kirwan (born 25 December 1816 at Beaumaris, Anglesey; died 13 June 1899 at St Johns, near Antony, Cornwall) was an English amateur cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1836 to 1842. Mainly associated with Cambridge University Cricket Club, he made 18 known appearances in first-class matches and had three brothers who all played first-class cricket.

Career

Kirwan, a right arm fast roundarm bowler, was known as "Wacky". He "bowled jerkily with a low arm, but at a very fast pace". He made his name as a schoolboy player at Eton College, his outstanding performance being to take all ten MCC wickets (all bowled) in 1835. He took a total of 26 wickets in just two matches for Eton that season. He went up to King's College, Cambridge in the same year, and played for the University team thereafter, his cricket career ending when he finally left Cambridge in 1842 to become a curate at St Feock in Cornwall.

Kirwan had an outstanding first-class debut in May 1836 when he played for the university versus Cambridge Town Club at Parker's Piece and took 15 wickets (all bowled) with six in the first innings and nine in the second.