Wallaby Legend

Lovingly known as 'Campo' and considered one of the greatest wingers in the game of rugby union, David Campese is a true entertainer on and off the field. A first class achiever David was capped by the Wallabies 101 times, and holds the world record for the most tries, numbering 64. Known also for the 'goose step' David’s game was fast and elusive. His nickname 'Too Easy (Campese)' has found a permanent home in the Australian vernacular.

David Campese is a household name in Rugby. Many view David as one of the greatest and most entertaining rugby players to have ever graced the rugby field. Representing Australia for 15 years and New South Wales for 11 years, he achieved and still holds the world record for the most tries in a test match (64).  To add to his credentials, he was first man in Australian history to play 101 tests for his country and is one out of only 5 players in the worldwide that has achieved over 100 games for their country.

Despite being retired for almost 10 years, David’s resounding impact on the game is still evident in his controversial yet accurate opinion on the game which continues to entertain and resonate throughout the international rugby world.

David is now living in Sydney Australia, after 3 years in Durban, South Africa

David owns and runs a highly successful rugby store and coffee shop in the historical Rocks area in the City of Sydney. He has owned and run this business since 1997 and it has developed it into an internationally recognized rugby shop.

David has signed a year contract with the Tonga’s 7’s team as a consultant leading up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.

SCHOOL COACHING

A prominent Durban Boys High School approached David to assists them as rugby Director for the school. With his love of rugby, and his interest in impacting rugby at schoolboy level David agreed to take on the position. He was contracted to the school from 2007-2009.

THE SHARKS 2006 and 2007 SEASON

David was contracted to the Sharks for the 2006-2007 Super 14 seasons, as a specialist skills and kicking coach 2006 Season.

Having ended in last place in the 2005 Super 14 competition, David’s positive influence on the Sharks has been evident via their distinctive ‘running’ approach’ to the game and a well deserved 5th place in the competition. They also succeeded expectations in the domestic championship (Currie Cup) whereby the Sharks reached the semi-finals.

David was again part of the Sharks management team for the 2007. Starting off the competition with a ‘history making’ 5 wins in a row, the Sharks secured their position as the team to beat. They continued to be formidable force throughout the competition culminating with a place in the Super 14 finals against their biggest rivals the Blue Bulls. Despite having dominated the game, the results did not go their way and they were ‘pipped’ at the post with a loss in the last 30 seconds that left the country in disbelief.

RUGBY Career

(1982-1996)

• Australia's first player to reach 101 Tests
• World record try-scorer with 64
• Leading try scorer at 1991 World Cup with six from six games
• Voted Player of Tournament at 1991 World Cup
• Test debut at age 19 against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1982
• Scored tries in first two Tests
• Equaled Australian try-scoring record for single Test with four against USA in 1983
• Member of 1984 Grand Slam winning Wallabies
• Member of 1986 Bledisloe Cup winning Wallabies
• Broke try-scoring world record in 1987 World Cup semi-final against France
• Named in Team of the Decade by Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook in 1989
• Member of 1991 World Cup winning Wallabies
• Member of 1992 Bledisloe Cup winning Wallabies
• Scored 50th Test try against South Africa in Cape Town in 1992
• Member of 1994 Bledisloe Cup winning Wallabies
• Played in first three World Cups in 1987, 1991 and 1995
• Made 100th Test appearance against Italy in Padua in 1996
• Played last Test against Wales in Cardiff in 1996
• Captained Australian Sevens team to Commonwealth Games bronze in 1998

COACHING EXPERIENCE

• 1991-94 - Ambassador for BMW-sponsored rugby clinics targeting private schools throughout Australia
• 1997 - Ambassador for Australian Rugby and traveled throughout Australia doing coaching clinics for state teams and kids in WA, SA and Melbourne
• 1998 - Specialist backs consultant for Singapore main team in Asian Championship which they won championship
• 2003-05 - Coaching at schools – Sydney Grammar, Sydney Marist, Eastwood   College
• 2004 - Bundaberg sponsored clinic in SA coaching club rugby teams
• 2003-05 - Specialist backs coach at Murray Mexted’s exclusive rugby academy in New Zealand
• 2005 - Coaching clinics at various UK schools
• 2006-07 - Specialist skills coach for the Natal Sharks. Assisted in bringing them from last in 2005 Super 14 season to 5th in 2006 season and 3rd in domestic
• championship (Currie Cup)
• 2007-09 - Coaching Director for Northwood Boys High School
• Yearly coaching clinics in Japan coaching children from aged 8-15yrs
• 2009-2010 - Coaching consultant for Tonga 7’s team

Awards and Achievements

55TH OSCARS MIDI OLYMPIQUE

(PARIS 2008)
David traveled to London in Nov 2008 to collect his award - the ‘Legends’ Oscar for being voted the best winger in the World

AUSTRALIAN MEDAL

(AM) (Australia 2003)
Once a year, a select group of Australians chosen from all professions and walks of life are honoured with this award by the Australian Government. This is symbol of David’s outstanding service, commitment and influence for a rugby career that spanned 15 years

CENTURIANS AWARD

(London 2002)
In a prestigious ceremony at the Houses of Parliament in London, David, Philippe Sella of France and Jason Leonard of England were honoured for being the only three rugby players in the history of rugby to play more than 100 Rugby Tests

INDUCTION INTO RUGBY HALL OF FAME

(London 2002)
Being inducted into the Rugby Hall of fame is the ultimate accolade in a rugby player’s career. Rugby journalists worldwide nominate a select amount of retired players of which 10 are chosen for the induction. Being inducted into the hall of fame is internationally Rugby’s greatest honour and represents the ‘greats’ of rugby past and present.

FAIR PLAY AWARD

(Italy 2002)
This initiative aims at awarding Prizes to important and significant personalities and/or National and International Sport Institutions because of noteworthy initiatives and behaviours concerning fields that link sport to civil society and that represent high moral values in the specific field of the Fair Play and in some issues belonging to the same theme.

PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT

(Rugby World Cup 1991)
This award is considered the most prestige’s award in World Rugby. David’s outstanding performance throughout the tournament ensured he was the unrivalled winner of this award

Business

DavidCampese.com caters for fans and customers and provides comments and articles from David on the latest developments in rugby, up to date information on his life, his career and his business. You can purchase international rugby attire and his exclusive Goosestep clothing range online as well as a carefully selected range of memorabilia and accessories.

Goosestep @ the rocks

David has been in retail since 1997. Having owned a number of Canterbury Rugby franchises around Sydney, he decided to narrow and focus his energy on a unique International concept store combining both retail and coffee. It is strategically situated in the most historical part of Sydney, The Rocks and sells his exclusive David Campese range designed by himself for men, women and children. The clothing is sold exclusively in the shop or via his online shop at www.davidcampese.com. The shop also sells exclusive memorabilia and international rugby jerseys.

David is renowned for his hands-on approach to his business and insists on one-on-one dealings with his customers. When in Sydney, you will often find him in his store meeting fans and customers and enhancing their experience by making his famous ‘campocino’s’

Journalism

David’s comments and opinions on current events in International Rugby are highly sought after by both the media and the public and he is constantly called upon for his opinion on the latest burning issues.

Australia

David has written his weekly column, Campo’s Column, in the Sydney based Daily Telegraph for the past 6 years. The long standing relationship with his readers is a result of his frank and controversial comments which continue to attract international interest.

South Africa

David also writes a weekly piece for the newly launched South African website www.rugbyzone.com

Public Speaking

Being a successful sportsman does not guarantee you the ability to effectively address audiences. After more than 13 years of public speaking experience and countless media interviews, as well as his natural instinct to ‘tell it as it is’, David has mastered the skill of capturing and entertaining audiences.

His appeal and services continue to be in demand worldwide from corporates, schools and clubs and he continues to travel the world entertaining his audiences.

Autobiographies

1991 – On a wing and a prayer
1994 – My Game your Game
1999 – Rugby World Cup
2003 – Campo, Still Entertaining

Charity

David has been associated with many charities during his career and still continues to pledge his services for a worthy cause.

Some examples:

1995 – David organized a World 15 exhibition game and donated 10% of all profits to Sydney Children’s Hospital

2006 – David spent 10 days in London promoting the UNICEF Soccer Aid Charity Event organized by Robbie Williams. The event culminated in a Soccer game played at Old Trafford and attended by 72 000 fans

Overview

David Campese is most certainly a unique individual. His personal life is a total contradiction to his media persona. He is in fact an intensely private and surprisingly shy individual who is fiercely protective over his family and privacy.

Following his insatiable rugby career and being exposed to his honest and somewhat frank opinions, he is someone fans feel they know. It is this dilemma about who he is as a rugby player vs who he is as a person, that intrigues and captivates the his audiences.

His impact as player and person both on and off the field is summed up well by his ex Coach Allan Jones - ‘He is the Don Bradman of Rugby’. 

Presentation Topics Include

• Sports Speaker
• Rugby Star
• Record Holder & Hall of Fame member
• Retail Rugby shop owner
• Rugby Journalist
• He as a player vs he as a person