David Campese AM

David Campese AM's Biography

David Campese is a household name in rugby. Many view David as one of the greatest and most entertaining rugby players to have ever graced the rugby field. Representing Australia for 15 years and new south wales for 11 years, he achieved and still holds the world record for the most tries in a test match (64).

To add to his credentials, he was first man in Australian history to play 101 tests for his country and is one out of only 5 players in the worldwide that has achieved over 100 games for their country.

Despite being retired for almost 10 years, David’s resounding impact on the game is still evident in his controversial yet consistently accurate opinion on the game which continues to entertain and resonate throughout the international rugby world.

David Campese is most certainly a unique individual. His personal life is a total contradiction to his media persona. He is in fact an intensely private and surprisingly shy individual who is fiercely protective over his family and privacy.

Following his insatiable rugby career and being exposed to his honest and somewhat frank opinions, he is someone fans feel they know. It is this dilemma about who he is as a rugby player vs who he is as a person, that intrigues and captivates his audiences.

His impact as player and person both on and off the field is summed up well by his ex Coach Allan Jones - ‘He is the Don Bradman of Rugby’.

David has had over 13 years of public speaking experience and countless media interviews, as well as his natural instinct to ‘tell it as it is’, David has mastered the skill of capturing and entertaining audiences. His appeal and services continue to be in demand worldwide from corporates, schools and clubs and he continues to travel the world entertaining his audiences.

Awards:

55th Oscars midi olympique (Paris 2008)

David traveled to London recently in Nov 2008 to collect his award – the ‘Legends’ Oscar for being voted the best winger in the World

AUSTRALIAN MEDAL (AM) (Australia 2003)

Once a year, a select group of Australians chosen from all professions and walks of life are honoured with this award by the Australian Government. This is symbol of David’s outstanding service, commitment and influence for a rugby career that spanned 15 years.

Centurians award (London 2002)

In a prestigious ceremony at the Houses of Parliament in London, David, Philippe Sella of France and Jason Leonard of England were honoured for being the only three rugby players in the history of rugby to play more than 100 Rugby Tests.

Induction into rugby hall of fame (London 2002)

Being inducted into the Rugby Hall of fame is the ultimate accolade in a rugby player’s career. Rugby journalists worldwide nominate a select amount of retired players of which 10 are chosen for the induction. Being inducted into the hall of fame is internationally Rugby’s greatest honour and represents the ‘greats’ of rugby past and present.

Fair play award (Italy 2002)

This initiative aims at awarding Prizes to important and significant personalities and/or National and International Sport Institutions because of noteworthy initiatives and behaviours concerning fields that link sport to civil society and that represent high moral values in the specific field of the Fair Play and in some issues belonging to the same theme.

Player of the tournament – Rugby World Cup 1991

This award is considered the most prestige’s award in World Rugby. David’s outstanding performance throughout the tournament ensured he was the unrivalled winner of this award.