David Kirk
Encyclopedia
David Edward Kirk, MBE
, (born 5 October 1960 in Wellington
; grew up in Palmerston North
), is a former New Zealand
rugby union
player. He is best known for having been the captain of the All Blacks
when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup
in 1987
.
He was awarded an MBE
in 1987 for services to Rugby.
and Selwyn College
at the University of Otago
, where he graduated with a medical degree MBChB.
and Auckland, and first toured with the All Blacks in 1983.
He stood out from his fellow players as "urbane, articulate and thoughtful"http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1059, and when the planned 1986 All Black tour to South Africa was cancelled David and John Kirwan were the only two players to refuse to join the rebel "Cavaliers"
team on moral grounds—he felt that it would give comfort to the apartheid regime.
With the rebels banned from playing in the next two All Black test he captained the so-called "Baby Blacks". On the return of the rebels however, his position was uncomfortable and he was lucky to retain his place in the squad. Despite this, when original captain Andy Dalton had to withdraw with an injury, Kirk was made captain—and led New Zealand to victory over France in the 1987 Rugby World Cup Final
.
at Worcester College
, Oxford
with a degree in PPE
.
After his studies at Oxford, he returned to New Zealand, becoming the coach of the Wellington NPC
team in 1993 and 1994 and also a media commentator. A National Party
member, sought the party's nomination for the 1992 Tamaki
by-election, losing to Clem Simich
. Kirk was also a staffer for Prime Minister
Jim Bolger
, and worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company.
From October 2005 to December 2008 he was Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax Media
—publisher of The Sydney Morning Herald
, The Age
and The Australian Financial Review
in Australia; and The Dominion Post
and The Christchurch Press in New Zealand. On occasions he was also a journalist for Fairfax - commentating on rugby when regular journalists are on strike.
On 5 December 2008, Fairfax Media
announced that David Kirk was stepping down as CEO effective immediately.
His most recent involvement with rugby came in late 2009, when he led an independent arbitration panel appointed by SANZAR
to settle an impasse between its three member unions (South Africa
, New Zealand and Australia
) over whether the planned 15th franchise in the Super Rugby competition would be awarded to Australia
or South Africa
, Ultimately, Melbourne was chosen and began play in 2011.
On 24 October 2011, Kirk was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame
alongside all other Rugby World Cup-winning captains and head coaches from the tournament's inception in 1987 through to 2007 (minus the previously inducted John Eales
).
He is currently Chairman of the Board at The Hoyts Group
, a position he has held since July 2009 and Chairman of the Board at Trade Me Group.
Games: 17 (0 as Captain)
Total Matches: 34 (11 as Captain)
Test Points: 24pts (6t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)
Game Points: 44pts (11t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)
Total Points: 68pts (17t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, (born 5 October 1960 in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
; grew up in Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
), is a former New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He is best known for having been the captain of the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
in 1987
1987 Rugby World Cup
The 1987 Rugby World Cup was the first Rugby World Cup. New Zealand and Australia agreed to co-host the first ever tournament with New Zealand hosting seventeen pool stage matches, two quarter-finals and the final with Australia being the junior partner hosting seven pool matches, two...
.
He was awarded an MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1987 for services to Rugby.
Early years
Kirk was educated at Russell Street School, Wanganui Collegiate SchoolWanganui Collegiate School
Wanganui Collegiate School is an independent, coeducational, day and boarding secondary school in Wanganui, New Zealand. The school is affiliated to the Anglican church.-About:...
and Selwyn College
Selwyn College, Otago
Selwyn College is a residential college affiliated to the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. It was founded by Bishop Samuel Tarratt Nevill as a theological college training clergy for the Anglican Church and as a hall of residence for students attending the university...
at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, where he graduated with a medical degree MBChB.
Rugby union career
Kirk played provincial rugby for OtagoOtago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
and Auckland, and first toured with the All Blacks in 1983.
He stood out from his fellow players as "urbane, articulate and thoughtful"http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1059, and when the planned 1986 All Black tour to South Africa was cancelled David and John Kirwan were the only two players to refuse to join the rebel "Cavaliers"
New Zealand Cavaliers
The Cavaliers was the name given to an unofficial New Zealand rugby union team which toured South Africa in 1986.The rebel tour occurred after the official All Black tour planned for 1985 was cancelled due to a legal ruling that it would be incompatible with the NZRFU's legally stated purpose:...
team on moral grounds—he felt that it would give comfort to the apartheid regime.
With the rebels banned from playing in the next two All Black test he captained the so-called "Baby Blacks". On the return of the rebels however, his position was uncomfortable and he was lucky to retain his place in the squad. Despite this, when original captain Andy Dalton had to withdraw with an injury, Kirk was made captain—and led New Zealand to victory over France in the 1987 Rugby World Cup Final
1987 Rugby World Cup Final
The 1987 Rugby World Cup Final was the final match in the 1987 Rugby World Cup, the first Rugby World Cup played.It was played at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand on 20 June 1987 between the hosts New Zealand and France...
.
Later years
Kirk abruptly retired from competitive rugby after the World Cup win, at the age of 26, to take up a Rhodes ScholarshipRhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
at Worcester College
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
with a degree in PPE
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Philosophy, politics, and economics is a popular interdisciplinary undergraduate/graduate degree which combines study from the three disciplines...
.
After his studies at Oxford, he returned to New Zealand, becoming the coach of the Wellington NPC
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
team in 1993 and 1994 and also a media commentator. A National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
member, sought the party's nomination for the 1992 Tamaki
Tamaki (New Zealand electorate)
Tāmaki is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The electorate is named after the Tamaki River that runs immediately east of the seat...
by-election, losing to Clem Simich
Clem Simich
Clement Rudolph "Clem" Simich or Šimić, QSO is a New Zealand politician for the National Party. He was born in Te Kopuru, Northland on 2 June 1939.-Member of Parliament:...
. Kirk was also a staffer for Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
Jim Bolger
Jim Bolger
James Brendan "Jim" Bolger, ONZ was the 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997. Bolger was elected on the promise of delivering a "Decent Society" following the previous Labour government's economic reforms, known as Rogernomics...
, and worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company.
From October 2005 to December 2008 he was Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The group's operations include newspapers, magazines, radios and digital media operating in Australia and New Zealand. Fairfax Media was founded by the Fairfax family as John Fairfax and Sons, later to become John...
—publisher of The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
, The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
and The Australian Financial Review
The Australian Financial Review
The Australian Financial Review is a leading business and finance newspaper in Australia.Fairfax Media publishes it in a compact format six days a week, Monday to Saturday....
in Australia; and The Dominion Post
The Dominion Post (Wellington)
The Dominion Post is a metropolitan broadsheet newspaper published in Wellington, New Zealand, owned by the Australian Fairfax group, owners of The Age, Melbourne, and The Sydney Morning Herald.- Foundation :...
and The Christchurch Press in New Zealand. On occasions he was also a journalist for Fairfax - commentating on rugby when regular journalists are on strike.
On 5 December 2008, Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The group's operations include newspapers, magazines, radios and digital media operating in Australia and New Zealand. Fairfax Media was founded by the Fairfax family as John Fairfax and Sons, later to become John...
announced that David Kirk was stepping down as CEO effective immediately.
His most recent involvement with rugby came in late 2009, when he led an independent arbitration panel appointed by SANZAR
SANZAR
SANZAR is the body which operates Super Rugby and Tri Nations competitions in rugby union. It is a joint venture of the South African Rugby Union, the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Australian Rugby Union, formed in 1996.Created shortly after rugby's move to professionalism in 1995, SANZAR's two...
to settle an impasse between its three member unions (South Africa
South African Rugby Union
The South African Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in South Africa and is affiliated to the International Rugby Board...
, New Zealand and Australia
Australian Rugby Union
The Australian Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body. It consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory...
) over whether the planned 15th franchise in the Super Rugby competition would be awarded to Australia
Melbourne Rebels
The Melbourne Rebels are a professional rugby union team based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They made their debut in SANZAR's Super Rugby tournament in 2011. They are the first privately owned professional rugby union team in Australia...
or South Africa
Southern Kings
The Southern Kings are a South African rugby union franchise. The franchise was formally announced at the opening of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 16 June 2009, in time to coincide with the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa....
, Ultimately, Melbourne was chosen and began play in 2011.
On 24 October 2011, Kirk was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame
IRB Hall of Fame
The IRB Hall of Fame is a hall of fame operated by the International Rugby Board that recognises special achievement and contribution to the sport of rugby union. The IRB Hall of Fame covers players, coaches, administrators, match officials, institutions and other individuals...
alongside all other Rugby World Cup-winning captains and head coaches from the tournament's inception in 1987 through to 2007 (minus the previously inducted John Eales
John Eales
John Eales AM is an Australian former rugby union player and the most successful captain in the history of Australian rugby.-Early life:...
).
He is currently Chairman of the Board at The Hoyts Group
Hoyts
The Hoyts Group is an Australian company consisting of Hoyts Exhibition, Hoyts Distribution and Val Morgan.Hoyts Exhibition manages 450 screens across 40 Australian and 10 New Zealand cinema complexes; making it Australia's second largest cinema chain. Val Morgan, the cinema advertising arm of the...
, a position he has held since July 2009 and Chairman of the Board at Trade Me Group.
All Blacks statistics
Tests: 17 (11 as Captain)Games: 17 (0 as Captain)
Total Matches: 34 (11 as Captain)
Test Points: 24pts (6t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)
Game Points: 44pts (11t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)
Total Points: 68pts (17t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)
External links
- David Kirk profile at New Zealand Rugby Museum
- Whole new ball game — Sydney Morning Herald biography published 27 August 2005