David Bouveng
Encyclopedia
David Bouveng attended Padua college
, Brisbane, Australia and played in the centers for the school first 13 in the 1991 Confraternity Shield competition in Townsville. Padua college had produced other Rugby League players, including Paul Vautin
. Bouveng was scouted at this schoolboy competition and went to play for the Gold Coast-based Chargers. His rookie year was 1993, and he was one of several North Queensland Cowboys
recruits from the Gold Coast
. He had his first taste of First Grade rugby league
in 1993, and established himself in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
with some lively performances on the wing
in 1994.
However, his strong performances on the field in season 1994 were outstanding. The Gold Coast Seagulls
had five wins in 1994 and David scored in all but one of those winning matches. His status snowballed every round, gaining strength until becoming a clear standout. His strong consistency handed him the opportunity to sign a larger contract moving north to new club North Queensland Cowboys
for the following season.
gave him greater opportunity and by the halfway mark of the Australian Rugby League
competition he was among the top try-scorers in the league.
Cowboys statistics
Legend: G = Games, T = Tries, Gls = Goals, FGls = Field Goals, Pts = Points.
.
David represented Halifax Blue Sox
for three seasons from 1997 through to 1999. He played out his First Grade career in England before returning to Australia to finish out his overall career.
again but this time in the Queensland Cup. His time at the Ipswich Jets
may have been brief but it added another club and another milestone to a long and eventful career.
Padua College
Padua College is a Roman Catholic boys' school in Brisbane, Australia. The college derives its name from franciscan friar Saint Anthony of Padua , appointed by St. Francis as the first Professor of Theology for the friars. Padua is the university city of Northern Italy where St Anthony died....
, Brisbane, Australia and played in the centers for the school first 13 in the 1991 Confraternity Shield competition in Townsville. Padua college had produced other Rugby League players, including Paul Vautin
Paul Vautin
Paul Vautin , is an Australian sports television personality and former rugby league footballer and coach. He currently hosts the NRL Footy Show and provides commentary for the Nine Network's coverage of rugby league matches...
. Bouveng was scouted at this schoolboy competition and went to play for the Gold Coast-based Chargers. His rookie year was 1993, and he was one of several North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
recruits from the Gold Coast
Gold Coast Chargers
Gold Coast were a professional Rugby league football club which played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership from 1988 to 1994, the Australian Rugby League premiership from 1995 to 1997, and the National Rugby League premiership in 1998...
. He had his first taste of First Grade rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
in 1993, and established himself in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
with some lively performances on the wing
Rugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
in 1994.
Gold Coast Seagulls
During his time at the Gold Coast, Bouveng managed to get some strong consistent performances together at what was a struggling club. His time in the New South Wales Rugby League during seasons 1993 and 1994 gave little happiness with a wooden spoon and second last place.However, his strong performances on the field in season 1994 were outstanding. The Gold Coast Seagulls
Gold Coast Chargers
Gold Coast were a professional Rugby league football club which played in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership from 1988 to 1994, the Australian Rugby League premiership from 1995 to 1997, and the National Rugby League premiership in 1998...
had five wins in 1994 and David scored in all but one of those winning matches. His status snowballed every round, gaining strength until becoming a clear standout. His strong consistency handed him the opportunity to sign a larger contract moving north to new club North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
for the following season.
North Queensland Cowboys
His career continued with the Cowboys, which he joined for the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Bouveng made the most of his limited chances on the North Queensland flank to produce again a succession of tries. A switch to the centresRugby league positions
A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs"....
gave him greater opportunity and by the halfway mark of the Australian Rugby League
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
competition he was among the top try-scorers in the league.
Cowboys statistics
| Year | G | T | Gls | FGls | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 1996 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Totals | 21 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
Legend: G = Games, T = Tries, Gls = Goals, FGls = Field Goals, Pts = Points.
Halifax Blue Sox (English Super League)
David jumped ship at the Cowboys in 1997 and was bound for England. He and many other Australian rugby league players followed in his footsteps as they were lured by the bigger "dollars" available in the European Super LeagueSuper League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
.
David represented Halifax Blue Sox
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
for three seasons from 1997 through to 1999. He played out his First Grade career in England before returning to Australia to finish out his overall career.
Ipswich Jets (Queensland Cup)
In 2000 Bouveng strapped on the boots for the last time in his professional career. Back where his roots in rugby league started, David played rugby league in QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
again but this time in the Queensland Cup. His time at the Ipswich Jets
Ipswich Jets
The Ipswich Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Ipswich, Queensland.Their name comes from nearby RAAF Base Amberley, one of the largest airbases in Australia. The Jets compete in the Queensland Cup competition...
may have been brief but it added another club and another milestone to a long and eventful career.