Elton Flatley
Encyclopedia
Elton Flatley is a former Australia
n international
rugby union
footballer. At his best position of fly-half, Flatley was often able to dictate the game by kicking tactically or throwing simple passes in order to retain possession.
Flatley tended to play internationally at centre. This is mainly due to Stephen Larkham
holding the position of fly half. Indeed, he played at inside centre in the 2003 Rugby World Cup and looked as comfortable and composed as ever. The biggest test was his goal-kicking, which under high pressure was key in keeping Australia in the game until the very end. He played for the Queensland Reds
.
where he was signed into the professional ranks of rugby union
upon graduating.
Flatley made his debut for the Queensland Reds
in 1996, the inaugural season of the Super 12, at the very young age of 18 against New Zealand side, Highlanders.
It was only a year later that Flatley would make his international debut for Australia
, playing against England
at Twickenham
on 15 November in 1997 at the age of just 20. The game was a 15-all draw. Flatley was again in the team for the next game against Scotland
, which Australia won.
In 2001 Flatley was a member of the Wallabies team that won the test series against the British and Irish Lions
during the 2001 tour to Australia.
Flatley figured prominently in Australia's 2003 Rugby World Cup
campaign, going right to the final against England
. He finished the tournament as the third highest point score, scoring 100 points for Australia.
In April 2004, Flatley reached another milestone, becoming the youngest player ever to reach 100 caps for the Queensland Reds
when he led the side out against the Sharks in Durban
.
Flatley prematurely retired from all forms of rugby on 16 March 2006, on medical advice. Flatley suffered from continued blurred vision as a result of a number of concussions. Flatley thanked everyone he has been involved with in his rugby career, also saying that he is looking forward to spending a lot more time with his family and pursuing a career in business.
In 2006 he was a contestant on Australia's Celebrity Survivor
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n international
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
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...
footballer. At his best position of fly-half, Flatley was often able to dictate the game by kicking tactically or throwing simple passes in order to retain possession.
Flatley tended to play internationally at centre. This is mainly due to Stephen Larkham
Stephen Larkham
Stephen Larkham is an Australian rugby union footballer currently playing for the Ricoh Black Rams in Japan. He is best known for his career with the Brumbies in Super Rugby, for whom he played from the inception of the professional Super 12 in 1996 through 2007, and his long tenure with the...
holding the position of fly half. Indeed, he played at inside centre in the 2003 Rugby World Cup and looked as comfortable and composed as ever. The biggest test was his goal-kicking, which under high pressure was key in keeping Australia in the game until the very end. He played for the Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
.
Career
Flatley was educated at St. Joseph's Nudgee CollegeSt. Joseph's Nudgee College
St Joseph's Nudgee College is a private, Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys, located in Boondall, a northern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
where he was signed into the professional ranks of 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...
upon graduating.
Flatley made his debut for the Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
in 1996, the inaugural season of the Super 12, at the very young age of 18 against New Zealand side, Highlanders.
It was only a year later that Flatley would make his international debut for Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
, playing against England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
on 15 November in 1997 at the age of just 20. The game was a 15-all draw. Flatley was again in the team for the next game against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
, which Australia won.
In 2001 Flatley was a member of the Wallabies team that won the test series against the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
during the 2001 tour to Australia.
Flatley figured prominently in Australia's 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
campaign, going right to the final against England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
. He finished the tournament as the third highest point score, scoring 100 points for Australia.
In April 2004, Flatley reached another milestone, becoming the youngest player ever to reach 100 caps for the Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
when he led the side out against the Sharks in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
.
Flatley prematurely retired from all forms of rugby on 16 March 2006, on medical advice. Flatley suffered from continued blurred vision as a result of a number of concussions. Flatley thanked everyone he has been involved with in his rugby career, also saying that he is looking forward to spending a lot more time with his family and pursuing a career in business.
In 2006 he was a contestant on Australia's Celebrity Survivor
Celebrity Survivor
Celebrity Survivor, also known promotionally as Celebrity Survivor: Vanuatu and Australia's Celebrity Survivor, was an Australian television series that screened on the Seven Network in 2006, based on the popular reality television show, Survivor...
.