Paul Griffen
Encyclopedia
Paul Richard Griffen is an Italian rugby union footballer. He has represented Italy at scrum half in forty two full internationals. He plays for Calvisano.
in 2003 and Canterbury
in 2007 in the National Provincial Championship
. In 1999 he left New Zealand and joined Partenope of Naples, a second tier Italian side where he played for one season.
Griffen transferred to Calvisano for the start of the 2000-01 season appearing in the Super 10
. He was an integral member of team that won the Campionato Nazionale Eccellenza (Italian premiership)in 2004-05 & 2007-08 and the Coppa Italia in 2003-04. He has now spent over ten seasons at Calvisano
to represent Italy, for whom he was now qualified to play, against England in the Six Nations. Griffen had a successful tournament and was voted Italy’s best player alongside Andrea Lo Cicero
. He was replaced as first choice scrum half by Alessandro Troncon
for the 2005 Six nations appearing as a replacement on two occasions. He remained a regular member of the Italy squad until 2007.
The highlight of his career was his selection by Italy coach Pierre Berbizier
for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
where he appeared in three games. He was omitted from the national team for the 2008 Six Nations but was recalled after a sixteen month absence by the new Italy coach Nick Mallett
who recalled Griffen for the 2009 Six Nations where he made four appearances.
Club career
Paul Griffen was raised in New Zealand and played his early rugby at Blaketown RFC and at Linwood RFC later representing the West CoastWest Coast Rugby Football Union
The West Coast Rugby Football Union, formed in 1890, is the official governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the West Coast region of New Zealand and is affiliated to the New Zealand Rugby Union. The team is based in Greymouth and plays home matches at Rugby Park....
in 2003 and Canterbury
Canterbury Rugby Football Union
The Canterbury Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the Canterbury region, in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand...
in 2007 in the National Provincial Championship
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
. In 1999 he left New Zealand and joined Partenope of Naples, a second tier Italian side where he played for one season.
Griffen transferred to Calvisano for the start of the 2000-01 season appearing in the Super 10
Super 10
Super 10 may refer to:*Super 10 , the national rugby union competition in Italy*Super 10 , a Southern Hemisphere rugby union competition held between 1993 and 1995 which predated the Super 12...
. He was an integral member of team that won the Campionato Nazionale Eccellenza (Italian premiership)in 2004-05 & 2007-08 and the Coppa Italia in 2003-04. He has now spent over ten seasons at Calvisano
International career
In 2004 he was selected by coach John KirwanJohn Kirwan
John Kirwan may refer to:* John Kirwan , cricketer* John Kirwan , 20th century Australian politician* John Kirwan , New Zealand dual code rugby footballer and coach...
to represent Italy, for whom he was now qualified to play, against England in the Six Nations. Griffen had a successful tournament and was voted Italy’s best player alongside Andrea Lo Cicero
Andrea Lo Cicero
Andrea Lo Cicero is an Italian rugby union footballer.Born in Catania, Sicily, Lo Cicero began his professional career in the town of his birth with Amatori Catania. Later he moved to Bologna and then to Rugby Rovigo, winning his first Italian Championship in 2000 with Rugby Roma...
. He was replaced as first choice scrum half by Alessandro Troncon
Alessandro Troncon
Alessandro Troncon is a former Italian rugby union player.Troncon has made more test appearances than any other player in Italian rugby union history. The veteran scrum-half made his Italy debut against Spain in 1994 and has played alongside fly-half Diego Dominguez on more than 50 occasions...
for the 2005 Six nations appearing as a replacement on two occasions. He remained a regular member of the Italy squad until 2007.
The highlight of his career was his selection by Italy coach Pierre Berbizier
Pierre Berbizier
Pierre Berbizier is a French former rugby union footballer, and currently head coach of Top 14 side Racing Métro. His usual position was at scrum-half. He played 56 times for France.-Biography:Berbizier was born in Saint-Gaudens...
for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
where he appeared in three games. He was omitted from the national team for the 2008 Six Nations but was recalled after a sixteen month absence by the new Italy coach Nick Mallett
Nick Mallett
Nicholas Vivian Howard Mallett is a former South African rugby union player who was until recently the head coach of the Italian national team, previously replacing Pierre Berbizier on 3 October 2007...
who recalled Griffen for the 2009 Six Nations where he made four appearances.
Club
- Campionato Nazionale Eccellenza 2004-05, 2007–08
- Coppa Italia : 2003-04
International Playing Statistics
- 42 caps for Italy 2000 to 2009
- 33 starts, 9 replacement, 1 try
- Rugby World Cup appearances 1997 1 start, 2 replacement
- Six Nations appearances 19, 15 starts, 4 replacement
External links
- RBS 6 Nations profile
- Paul Griffen player profile at rugbycalvisano.it
- Paul Griffen profile