Ben Darwin

Ben Darwin (born 17 October 1976) is a former Australian rugby union footballer. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Sport scholarship program , he played 28 times for the Wallabies, Australia's national team, from 2001 to 2003. During this time, Darwin played games against the British and Irish Lions and was part of the Wallabies' 2003 Rugby World Cup team. His usual position was tighthead prop,[2] although on occasion he played on the loosehead side.

Ben Darwin
Date of birth (1976-10-17) 17 October 1976
Height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Weight115 kg (18 st 2 lb)
Rugby union career
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2001-2003 Australia
Coaching career
Years Team
– Northern Suburbs
– Western Force
– NTT Shining Arcs
– Melbourne Rebels

Wallabies career

Darwin made his international debut for Australia in June 2001, coming off the bench against the touring Lions in Brisbane. He also played in the 2001 Tri Nations Series later that year, and was capped against Spain, England, France and Wales. He played in the 2002 Tri Nations Series, as well as being capped another four times during the end of year tour. He played 11 times for Australia in 2003, and was included in the 2003 World Cup squad. It was during the Wallabies' World Cup semi-final win against the All Blacks that Darwin sustained a neck injury that forced him to retire from rugby.[3]

Post playing career

After retirement, Darwin made the switch from player to coach, starting at club rugby level with Sydney's Northern Suburbs where he was appointed head coach in 2005.[4] In 2006, Darwin was involved with the start up of the Super 14 club, the Western Force, as the Forwards Coach until mid-2006.[5] In 2007, Darwin was selected to be a part of the commentary team covering the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France for the Australian television network, Channel 10. While he France, Darwin was also in training for his first Iron Man triathlon, which he completed in Port Macquarie in April 2008. He finished his second Iron Man, again at Port Macquarie, the following year.

At the beginning of June 2008, Darwin moved to Tokyo where he served as the Forwards Coach for the Japanese Top League Rugby team, the NTT Shining Arcs, a team owned by Japanese telecommunications giant NTT.[6] Darwin was integral to the club's promotion from the 2nd Division Top East competition to Top League at the end of the 09/10 season.[7] At the beginning of 2010, Darwin married a writer/journalist from Melbourne.[8] Shortly after, Darwin and his wife returned to Australia in order for Darwin to take up the Scrum Coach/Video Analyst position for the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby franchise team.[9]

Darwin writes regular columns on rugby matters for www.rugbyzone.com[10][11] and is still in training for various triathlon competitions.

Coaching

2005: Head Coach at Northern Suburbs, Sydney Australia[12]

2006: Forwards Coach at Western Force, Perth, Australia[13]

2008–10: Forwards Coach and Video Analyst at NTT Shining Arcs, Tokyo, Japan.

2010–12: Scrum Coach and Video Analyst/Head of IT at Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne, Australia.[14]

2012–13: Forwards Coach for Suntory Sungoliath, Tokyo, Japan.

References
  1. "2001 Australian Wallabies squad - British & Irish Lions Tour". rugby.com.au. Australian Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  2. "Norths Appoint Ben Darwin". ARU. Australian Rugby Union. 4 November 2004. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  3. "Injury forces Ben Darwin to retire from rugby". ARU. Australian Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  4. "Norths Appoint Ben Darwin". ARU. Australian Rugby Union. 4 November 2004. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  5. "World Cup Wallaby Ben Darwin named Assistant Coach". ARU. Australian Rugby Union. 5 April 2005. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  6. "Former Wallaby prop Ben Darwin questions penalties awarded against Al Baxter". foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  7. "Final: Japan Rugby Top League Promotion & Relegation Matches". Rugby Japan. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  8. "New Beginnings". Rugby Zone. Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  9. Smith, Wayne (20 April 2010). "Darwin to coach Rebels scrum". The Australian. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  10. "Art of Japanese Rugby – Part 1". Rugby Zone. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  11. "Art of Japanese Rugby – Part 2". Rugby Zone Absolute cretin, when dealing neighbour hood issues. Probably be sued for slander depending on the authorities view and the opinion of top Queen street legal firm. So dumb he mentioned he complained in front of 2 witnesses in what would otherwise protected him. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  12. "Norths Appoint Ben Darwin". ARU. Australian Rugby Union. 4 November 2004. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  13. "World Cup Wallaby Ben Darwin named Assistant Coach". ARU. Australian Rugby Union. 5 April 2005. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  14. "Darwin to coach Rebels scrum". The Australian. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
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