Will Genia
Encyclopedia
Will Genia is a Papua New Guinea
n-born, Australian rugby union
player who plays at scrum-half for the Queensland Reds
in the Super Rugby competition, in which he debuted round one, 2007. Currently, he plays for the Wallabies.
. He played GPS, Queensland
and Australian Schoolboys rugby in 2005. His brother, Francis, plays for the Papua New Guinea national rugby union team
.
Genia made his Super 14 debut as a 19 year old in 2007. He shared the scrum half position with Sam Cordingley
and Ben Lucas throughout 2008 and only made one start. It was in the 2009 season he made the scrum half position his own and earned a call up to the Australian Wallabies.
Genia made his international debut against South Africa in the 2009 Tri Nations
. On 7 November 2009, Genia played his first national game in Europe which was an 18–9 victory against England. He played exceptionally well in this game picking up the man of the match award for his superb service to Matt Giteau and his awareness around the breakdown. He also added a try of his own in this encounter which showed a sublime piece of awareness and strength, where from 10 metres out he managed to sneak through the England forwards.
Genia has been compared by many critics to the legendary Australian halfback George Gregan
. Pound for pound he is one of the strongest players in the Wallabies team, being able to bench press 172 kg.
Genia's form for the Reds in 2010 was superb and he also captained the side, a role thrust upon him after regular captain James Horwill
suffered an injury midway through the second match of the season. Genia's captaincy impressed pundits such as former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones who suggested he should be the Australia captain. At the end of the 2010 season, Genia was voted by his teammates as the players' player of the year and won the Pilecki Medal
and also was voted the fans player of the year winning the People's Choice award.
Genia had another superb season for the Reds in 2011 and was voted by Australian rugby writers as the Australian Super Rugby Player of the Year. He played a crucial part in the Reds first ever Super Rugby title, and scored a memorable match winning 60 metre try in the final against the Crusaders.
Australia
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
n-born, Australian 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 who plays at scrum-half for the Queensland Reds
Queensland 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...
in the Super Rugby competition, in which he debuted round one, 2007. Currently, he plays for the Wallabies.
Career
Genia was educated at Brisbane Boys College finishing in 2005, the same school as team mates John Roe, Andrew Brown, and James HorwillJames Horwill
James Horwill is an Australian rugby union player, a national and provincial representative Lock forward. He captained the Queensland Reds to a season victory in the 2011 in the Super 15 competition, his sixth season played at that level and debuted as Wallaby captain in the deciding game of the...
. He played GPS, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and Australian Schoolboys rugby in 2005. His brother, Francis, plays for the Papua New Guinea national rugby union team
Papua New Guinea national rugby union team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby union team represent Papua New Guinea in the sport of rugby union. Nicknamed the Pukpuks, , they played their first international in 1966, defeating Vanuatu 47-3. Papua New Guinea have not so far qualified for a Rugby World Cup...
.
Genia made his Super 14 debut as a 19 year old in 2007. He shared the scrum half position with Sam Cordingley
Sam Cordingley
Sam Cordingley is an Australian rugby union footballer. He plays for the Melbourne Rebels in the international Super Rugby competition. He was educated at the St Patrick's Marist school, Dundas.-Career:...
and Ben Lucas throughout 2008 and only made one start. It was in the 2009 season he made the scrum half position his own and earned a call up to the Australian Wallabies.
Genia made his international debut against South Africa in the 2009 Tri Nations
2009 Tri Nations Series
The 2009 Tri Nations Series was the fourteenth annual Tri Nations rugby union series between the national rugby union teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, respectively nicknamed the All Blacks, Wallabies, and Springboks...
. On 7 November 2009, Genia played his first national game in Europe which was an 18–9 victory against England. He played exceptionally well in this game picking up the man of the match award for his superb service to Matt Giteau and his awareness around the breakdown. He also added a try of his own in this encounter which showed a sublime piece of awareness and strength, where from 10 metres out he managed to sneak through the England forwards.
Genia has been compared by many critics to the legendary Australian halfback George Gregan
George Gregan
George Musarurwa Gregan AM is an Australian rugby union halfback who has made more appearances for his national team than any other player in the sport's history....
. Pound for pound he is one of the strongest players in the Wallabies team, being able to bench press 172 kg.
Genia's form for the Reds in 2010 was superb and he also captained the side, a role thrust upon him after regular captain James Horwill
James Horwill
James Horwill is an Australian rugby union player, a national and provincial representative Lock forward. He captained the Queensland Reds to a season victory in the 2011 in the Super 15 competition, his sixth season played at that level and debuted as Wallaby captain in the deciding game of the...
suffered an injury midway through the second match of the season. Genia's captaincy impressed pundits such as former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones who suggested he should be the Australia captain. At the end of the 2010 season, Genia was voted by his teammates as the players' player of the year and won the Pilecki Medal
Pilecki Medal
Pilecki Medal is the award given to the Queensland Reds player of the year for that season. The medal is named after stalwart QLD prop Stan Pilecki, the first player to represent QLD 100 matches.-Previous Winners:*2011 - Will Genia*2010 - Will Genia...
and also was voted the fans player of the year winning the People's Choice award.
Genia had another superb season for the Reds in 2011 and was voted by Australian rugby writers as the Australian Super Rugby Player of the Year. He played a crucial part in the Reds first ever Super Rugby title, and scored a memorable match winning 60 metre try in the final against the Crusaders.
Honours
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...
- Super Rugby: 2011
Australia
Australia 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...
- Tri-Nations: 20112011 Tri Nations SeriesThe 2011 Tri Nations Series was the sixteenth annual Tri Nations rugby union series between the national rugby union teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, respectively nicknamed the All Blacks, Wallabies, and Springboks. It was also the last series in which only three teams...