Matt Burke
Encyclopedia
Matthew Burke is a retired Australia
n rugby union
player. He grew up in Carlingford
, New South Wales
, and was schooled at St Gerard Majella Catholic Primary School, Carlingford and St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
. He played at fullback and is the all time second-highest scorer for Australia in international rugby.
, Burke's career in schools representative rugby began in 1990 when he toured the United States
and Ireland
with the Australian Schoolboys. His international playing future was cemented through his association with the Eastwood Rugby Club
and the experience gained there. He then progressed to the Australian Under 21s team in 1992 and 1993 at the same time as playing at the Hong Kong Sevens
in 1992 and the Rugby World Cup Sevens
in 1993. Burke made his Test debut in 1993 when he played in the Third Test against the South Africa
n Springboks
.
Matt has now set up his own rugby coaching experiences under the Matt Burke Sports business. He runs both specialised skill sessions as well as school holiday clinics held at the Shore School.
for over a decade, Burke's third year as New South Wales Waratahs
captain saw him become the first player in the history of Waratah rugby to play over 100 games.
Burke has met with particular success against New Zealand's All Blacks
which included scoring one of Australia's greatest Bledisloe Cup
tries, in 1996. From a standing start in Brisbane
, Burke broke through numerous New Zealand tackles, throwing a dummy to off-balance several other All Blacks, before running 80 metres for a memorable individual try. In 1998 he scored all 24 of the Wallabies points against New Zealand at the MCG, a world record against the All Blacks.
As the Wallaby fullback in 1999, he scored 23 points against the All Blacks at Stadium Australia
, 24 points against in the Rugby World Cup semi final and 25 points against in the grand final.
Burke's form suffered in games where his goal-kicking ability deserted him and he was afflicted by a serious shoulder injury in 1998. Despite making it back in the squad for the 1999 Rugby World Cup
, it has been speculated that the injury affected his playing style.
Burke was retained as vice-captain and goal-kicker for the 2002 season. During that time he kicked a penalty after fulltime to win the Bledisloe Cup in windy conditions at Stadium Australia.
was soon competing with him for the fullback position. While his goal kicking and fairly regular try-scoring had saved Australia in many games his injuries would soon take their toll.
He then made a transformation into wing and then outside centre to accommodate Latham's place on the team. Many commentators noted that he was however, restricted from playing more freely while not in his favoured fullback position. In 2003, he was given the position back but did not perform well enough to retain it.
Midway through the 2003 Rugby World Cup
he was axed from the starting lineup - drawing mixed reactions; he would be relegated to the bench for the rest of his Wallabies career. In 2004, he found himself dropped from the NSW Waratahs. While he was injured early in that season - he still managed to score 62 points from his first six games; placing him ahead of Andrew Mehrtens
in the all time points lead of the Super 12 (now Super Rugby) competition.
Coach Ewen McKenzie
's decision to drop Burke drew ire from many in the union
fraternity, who accused McKenzie of disloyalty and being shortsighted. This was further questioned when NSW attempted to poach footballer Andrew Johns
from rival code league
, despite Johns' and Burke's similar ages.
Burke played his last international test on 21 August 2004 against South Africa for the final few minutes.
In 2006, in his latest international appearance, he was named as starting fullback for the World XV Rugby team
to play the South African Springboks for their first 2006 game.
Burke has been voted starting fullback in the Wallaby Team of the Decade
.
Owing to his lasting impact in the Waratahs' jersey, the NSW Waratahs' Player of the Year now wins the Matt Burke Trophy.
and teams in New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, France and England.
He played in the United Kingdom
for the Newcastle Falcons
in the Premiership
.
has also won the 'Player of the Year' at the Falcons and was also named as captain of the side.
In February 2007, he obtained a British
passport (while retaining Australian citizenship), qualifying through his England-born mother. His main reason for doing so was Guinness Premiership
regulations prohibiting teams from having more than one non-EU
citizen on the field at any time. This enabled the Falcons to play him at the same time as New Zealand
prop Joe McDonnell
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He grew up in Carlingford
Carlingford, New South Wales
Carlingford is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Carlingford is located 22 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of the The Hills Shire, Hornsby Shire and the City of Parramatta...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, and was schooled at St Gerard Majella Catholic Primary School, Carlingford and St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
St Joseph's College is a Roman Catholic, Secondary, day and boarding school for boys. It is located in Hunters Hill, a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. He played at fullback and is the all time second-highest scorer for Australia in international rugby.
Early rugby career
Starting out by playing the season before commencing at St. Joseph's College, Hunters HillSt. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
St Joseph's College is a Roman Catholic, Secondary, day and boarding school for boys. It is located in Hunters Hill, a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, Burke's career in schools representative rugby began in 1990 when he toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
with the Australian Schoolboys. His international playing future was cemented through his association with the Eastwood Rugby Club
Eastwood Rugby Club
Eastwood Rugby Club is a rugby union club playing in the Sydney grade competition. The club is based at T G Millner Field, named in honour of its benefactor Colonel Tom Millner MC VD, and the club's players and supporters are primarily drawn from the Northern Suburbs and Hills District of Sydney....
and the experience gained there. He then progressed to the Australian Under 21s team in 1992 and 1993 at the same time as playing at the Hong Kong Sevens
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
in 1992 and the Rugby World Cup Sevens
Rugby World Cup Sevens
The Rugby World Cup Sevens is the premier international Rugby sevens competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by the men's national sevens teams every four years. The inaugural tournament was held in 1993 in Scotland, the...
in 1993. Burke made his Test debut in 1993 when he played in the Third Test against the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Springboks
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
.
Matt has now set up his own rugby coaching experiences under the Matt Burke Sports business. He runs both specialised skill sessions as well as school holiday clinics held at the Shore School.
Feats and playing style
In addition to being a leading fullback and playing with the WallabiesAustralia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
for over a decade, Burke's third year as New South Wales Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
captain saw him become the first player in the history of Waratah rugby to play over 100 games.
Burke has met with particular success against New Zealand's All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
which included scoring one of Australia's greatest Bledisloe Cup
Bledisloe Cup
Rugby Union's Bledisloe Cup is contested by the Australia national rugby union team and New Zealand national rugby union team. It is named after Lord Bledisloe, the former Governor-General of New Zealand who donated the trophy in 1931. The trophy was designed in New Zealand by Nelson Isaac, and...
tries, in 1996. From a standing start in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Burke broke through numerous New Zealand tackles, throwing a dummy to off-balance several other All Blacks, before running 80 metres for a memorable individual try. In 1998 he scored all 24 of the Wallabies points against New Zealand at the MCG, a world record against the All Blacks.
As the Wallaby fullback in 1999, he scored 23 points against the All Blacks at Stadium Australia
Telstra Stadium
Stadium Australia, currently also known as ANZ Stadium due to naming rights, formerly known as Telstra Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay...
, 24 points against in the Rugby World Cup semi final and 25 points against in the grand final.
Burke's form suffered in games where his goal-kicking ability deserted him and he was afflicted by a serious shoulder injury in 1998. Despite making it back in the squad for the 1999 Rugby World Cup
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
, it has been speculated that the injury affected his playing style.
Burke was retained as vice-captain and goal-kicker for the 2002 season. During that time he kicked a penalty after fulltime to win the Bledisloe Cup in windy conditions at Stadium Australia.
Decline
After the 1999 World Cup, Burke had been plagued by many injuries which severely limited his return to form. Queenslander Chris LathamChris Latham (rugby player)
Chris Latham is an Australian rugby union player, who played fullback for the Worcester Warriors, following a long career with the Queensland Reds and Australia....
was soon competing with him for the fullback position. While his goal kicking and fairly regular try-scoring had saved Australia in many games his injuries would soon take their toll.
He then made a transformation into wing and then outside centre to accommodate Latham's place on the team. Many commentators noted that he was however, restricted from playing more freely while not in his favoured fullback position. In 2003, he was given the position back but did not perform well enough to retain it.
Midway through the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
he was axed from the starting lineup - drawing mixed reactions; he would be relegated to the bench for the rest of his Wallabies career. In 2004, he found himself dropped from the NSW Waratahs. While he was injured early in that season - he still managed to score 62 points from his first six games; placing him ahead of Andrew Mehrtens
Andrew Mehrtens
Andrew Philip Mehrtens MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, currently playing in France for Béziers, a club in the third-level Fédérale 1 league...
in the all time points lead of the Super 12 (now Super Rugby) competition.
Coach Ewen McKenzie
Ewen McKenzie
Ewen James Andrew McKenzie is a former Australian Rugby Union prop and now professional coach, currently with the Queensland Reds who won the 2011 premiership...
's decision to drop Burke drew ire from many in the union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
fraternity, who accused McKenzie of disloyalty and being shortsighted. This was further questioned when NSW attempted to poach footballer Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns
Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
from rival code league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, despite Johns' and Burke's similar ages.
Burke played his last international test on 21 August 2004 against South Africa for the final few minutes.
In 2006, in his latest international appearance, he was named as starting fullback for the World XV Rugby team
World XV
A World XV is a rugby union team, typically composed of invited players from various countries. Various World XVs have been arranged from time to time, often to take part in celebration and testimonial games, usually against national teams; recent World XV games have generally not been considered...
to play the South African Springboks for their first 2006 game.
Legacy
Burke is still Australia's most capped fullback, having played 54 of his 81 Tests in that position. After breaking 1000 career points for NSW in 2003, he has scored 878 Test points for Australia.Burke has been voted starting fullback in the Wallaby Team of the Decade
Wallaby Team of the Decade
To celebrate 10 years of professional rugby union, Australian Rugby celebrated the occasion with the announcement in 2005 of the Wallaby Team of the Decade...
.
Owing to his lasting impact in the Waratahs' jersey, the NSW Waratahs' Player of the Year now wins the Matt Burke Trophy.
Career in the United Kingdom
After losing his NSW contract, Burke was offered contracts by eight different clubs - including the Queensland RedsQueensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
and teams in New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, France and England.
He played in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for the Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle Falcons
The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
in the Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
.
has also won the 'Player of the Year' at the Falcons and was also named as captain of the side.
In February 2007, he obtained a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
passport (while retaining Australian citizenship), qualifying through his England-born mother. His main reason for doing so was Guinness Premiership
Guinness Premiership
The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership...
regulations prohibiting teams from having more than one non-EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
citizen on the field at any time. This enabled the Falcons to play him at the same time as New Zealand
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
prop Joe McDonnell
Joe McDonnell (rugby player)
Joseph Michael McDonnell born 1 March 1973 in Hastings, New Zealand is a rugby union player who played eight tests for New Zealand. As of 2008 he plays for Newcastle Falcons in the Guinness Premiership and in 2009 he has joined the CR El Salvador....
.
Retirement
In May 2008 Burke announced his immediate retirement from playing after failing to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee suffered the previous October.Honours
- Holds 22 Australian Rugby records and 7 International records
- Sixth highest international points scorer of all time at his retirement (now ninth)
- Eastwood Rugby ClubEastwood Rugby ClubEastwood Rugby Club is a rugby union club playing in the Sydney grade competition. The club is based at T G Millner Field, named in honour of its benefactor Colonel Tom Millner MC VD, and the club's players and supporters are primarily drawn from the Northern Suburbs and Hills District of Sydney....
(1990–2004) - World XV Rugby Team (2006)
- NSW WaratahsNew South Wales WaratahsThe New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
(1990–2004) - Rugby Sevens AustraliaAustralian national rugby union team (sevens)The Australian national rugby union sevens team competes in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Honours:* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 1979* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 1982* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 1983...
(1993) - Australian WallabiesAustralia national rugby union teamThe Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
(1993–2004) - Rugby World CupRugby World CupThe Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
Australia (1995, 1999 (winners), 2003 (runners-up)) - PM's XV (1999, 2000–2002)
- BarbariansBarbarian F.C.The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
(1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005) - Newcastle FalconsNewcastle FalconsThe Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
(2004–2007) - Wallaby of the Year (1996)
- Sydney Morning Herald Player of the Year (1996–1998)
- Twentieth most capped international of all time at the time of his retirement
- Second-highest Super 12Super 14Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
scorer of all time (behind Andrew MehrtensAndrew MehrtensAndrew Philip Mehrtens MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, currently playing in France for Béziers, a club in the third-level Fédérale 1 league...
) - Second-highest scorer of all time in the Rugby Union Tri NationsRugby Union Tri NationsThe Rugby Championship is an international rugby union competition contested annually by Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The competition is organized by SANZAR, a consortium formed by the governing bodies of the Australian Rugby Union, the New Zealand Rugby Union and the South...
(behind Mehrtens)
External links
- "Matt Burke could be a cup surprise" Sydney Morning Herald
- "Matt Burke's great 1996 try" YouTube
- "World XV gears up again for Boks clash" Scrum Online
- "Eales, Burke part of 'Team of the Decade'" Xtra Rugby
- "Matt Burke Ready for Challenge at the Falcons" BBC Sport
- Matthew Burke's Farewell Gallery Sydney Morning Herald
- "Phil Waugh wins M.Burke Cup on an Emotional Night" NSW Rugby
- Matt Burke Player profile NSW Rugby
- Matt Burke Player Profile Australian Wallabies
- Player statistics scrum.com