Julian Gardner (rugby union)

Julian Michael Gardner (born 12 May 1964, in Brisbane) is an Australian-Italian former international rugby union player and a current coach. He played as a flanker.

Gardner first played at Wests Rugby. He then made his debut for Australia with 4 caps in 1987 and 1988.

He moved to Italy to play for Rugby Rovigo in 1991/92. He also adopted Italian citizenship in virtue of an Italian grandmother. He was a Rugby Rovigo player until 1993/94, moving then to Rugby Roma Olimpic where he played in 1994/95. Gardner played for Benetton Treviso from 1995/96 to 1997/98, where he won the Italian Championship title in 1996/97.

Shortly before adopting Italian citizenship he was selected to play for Italy, earning 20 caps from 1992 to 1998, and scoring 4 tries, 20 points on aggregate. He was selected for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, playing in three games but without scoring. He was member of the team that beat France by 40-32 at the final of the 1995-1997 FIRA Trophy, scoring the second try at the 34th minute.[1]

After finishing his player career, Gardner returned to Australia, where he was the coach of Australia Sevens national team, from 2000 to 2002, and Queensland Reds Academy.

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