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Nathan Sharpe

Player Profile

Nathan Sharpe
Name Nathan Sharpe
Position Lock
Height 200cm
Weight 115kg
Date of Birth 26/2/1978
Super 14 Team Reds 1998-05, Western Force 2006-
Super 12/14 Points 30 (6t)
Super 12/14 Caps 119
Tests 2002 - Fr1, Fr2, NZ1, SA1, NZ2 [1t], SA2; 2003 - Ire, W, E, SA1 (rep), NZ1 (rep), SA2 (rep), NZ2 (rep), Arg*, R*, N*, Ire*, S*, NZ*, E*.; 2004 - S1, S2, E1, PI, NZ1, SA1, NZ2, SA2, 2005 - Sam [2t], It, F, SA1, SA2, SA3 (rep), NZ1, SA4, NZ2, F2, E, Ir, W [1t]; 2006* - E1, E2, Ire, NZ1, SA1, NZ2, SA2, NZ3, SA3, W, It, Ire2, S; 2007 - W1 [1t], W2, SA1, NZ1, SA2, NZ2, Jap* [1t], W3*, C*, E*, 2008 - Ire*, Fr1 (1t), SA1*, NZ1*, NZ2*, NZ3, NZ4*, E, Fr3, W; 2009 - It1, Fr, NZ1, SA1, NZ2* * Played every minute of every Test in 2006
Test Points 35 (7t)
Test Caps 79
Test Debut 2002 v France, Melbourne
Honours Australian U19s 1996, Australian U21s 1997-99, Australian Wallabies 2002-
Senior Tours 2003 RWC (Aus), 2005 UK & France, 2006 UK, Ireland & Italy, 2007 RWC (France), 2008 Hong Kong & Europe

Another busy Investec Super 14 campaign, where he appeared in every match for the Western Force, saw NATHAN SHARPE end the season as the third most capped Australian player in Super Rugby. Only George Gregan (136) and George Smith (120) have played more games in the competition. The 2007 John Eales Medal winner, Sharpe last year added 10 further Test caps to his career tally, and has this season become the ninth most capped Wallaby of all time. The Force skipper ended the 2009 Tri Nations just five appearances behind the 84 gathered by Eales, who remains Australia’s most capped second row forward. Sharpe grew up on a farm in Wagga Wagga, in New South Wales, and played Australian Rules until he was 12, when he found his way into rugby union. The move paid off, as Sharpe has been an Australian representative in some form for each of the last 13 seasons. This included playing a remarkable three seasons for the Australian Under-21 side, while he has been almost a permanent fixture in the Test starting XV since his debut for the Wallabies in 2002. Although his work load reduced slightly last year, Sharpe had other highlights, becoming a father for the second time when his son Franklin was born eight days before the Tri-Nations decider at Brisbane.

 

Career Timeline

1996-1997Represented Australia at Under 19 and Under 21 level. He went on to make the Australian Under 21 team for two more years, captaining the side in 1999.
1998-2001Made his Super 12 debut with the Reds against the Hurricanes in 1998 playing alongside John Eales. Sharpe earned 57 state caps, including 41 in Super 12 rugby, before making his Test debut against France in 2002.
2002Sharpe made his Test debut against France, starting at lock, and went on to be named the 2002 Rookie of the Year, as well as win the Australian Rugby Medal for Excellence as voted by his peers.
2003Played in all 14 Tests, including the World Cup Final against England.
2004Started in all eight of the winter Tests, captaining the Wallabies for the first time against the All Blacks in Wellington. Sharpe was rested from the Spring Tour to improve on his strength and conditioning.
2005Was the only Australian player to start in every Test match that season, and captained the Wallabies for the second time in a Test against Samoa: he celebrated by scoring two tries.
2006Started all 13 Tests and played every minute surpassing 50 Tests along the way. Sharpe captained the Western Force in its inaugural Super 14 season after eight years with the Reds.
2007Played all but one of the Force’s 13 Super 14 matches and led the team to a much improved seventh on the competition table.
2008Again misses just one match for the Force before earning selection for his seventh consecutive Wallaby season, where he appears 10 times.
2009Appears in all 13 matches played by the Force – one of only three forwards to start every game. Ends the campaign as the third most capped Australian in Super Rugby. Adds five more Wallabies caps before a shoulder injury against the All Blacks in Sydney prematurely ends his Tri Nations

Did you know? : Although he lists the Red Hot Chilli Peppers as his favourite band, Nathan Sharpe is a creature of habit, and listens to Pearl Jam before every game.

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