Owen Finegan, Australian rugby player and coach
Owen Finegan (born 22 April 1972, in Sydney) is an Australian former rugby union player who played as a flanker or lock, for the Australian national team. Finegan is currently the CEO of The Kids' Cancer Project Australia.
He was a key performer for the ACT Brumbies from their inception in 1996, joining from Randwick Rugby Club. Finegan played in 90 Super 12 matches for the Brumbies and was one of three remaining foundation players in the 2005 squad. He has helped them to two titles, including captaining them to their 2004 triumph, and scoring a Super 12 record 31 tries for a forward.
He made his international debut against Wales in 1996 and went on to win 56 caps despite having ankle and knee reconstructions, plus operations on both shoulders. He was an integral part of the Wallabies’ success over following decade and was named in the Wallaby team of the first professional decade in 2005.
The highlight of Finegan's career came in 1999, when he scored an injury time try as Australia won the Rugby World Cup.
Australia's player of the year in 2001, Finegan was controversially not picked by the Wallabies for the 2003 World Cup on home soil.
In 2005, he signed with English club Newcastle Falcons for two seasons, but was subsequently released after one year. Finegan played the 2006–7 season in Dublin with Bective Rangers and the Irish province Leinster, where he was coached by his former Randwick boss and teammate, Michael Cheika.
Finegan signed for English Rugby Union team Leicester Tigers, on a short term five-month contract as cover during the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He featured in many pre-season games and started the first game of the season against Bristol Rugby before picking up a groin injury which prevented him from making any more appearances.
1972Apr, 22
Owen Finegan
Choose Another Date
Events on 1972
- 21Feb
Sino-American relations
United States President Richard Nixon visits the People's Republic of China to normalize Sino-American relations. - 8May
Richard Nixon
Vietnam War: U.S. President Richard Nixon announces his order to place mines in major North Vietnamese ports in order to stem the flow of weapons and other goods to that nation. - 22May
Sri Lanka
Ceylon adopts a new constitution, becoming a Republic, changes its name to Sri Lanka, and joins the Commonwealth of Nations. - 23Jun
Central Intelligence Agency
Watergate scandal: U.S. President Richard M. Nixon and White House Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman are taped talking about using the Central Intelligence Agency to obstruct the Federal Bureau of Investigation's investigation into the Watergate break-ins. - 1Sep
Bobby Fischer
In Reykjavík, Iceland, American Bobby Fischer beats Russian Boris Spassky to become the world chess champion.