David Campese is widely regarded as the greatest rugby player of his generation. In an international career spanning 16 years, he played more test matches for Australia and has scored more tries than any other player in the history of the game.
David Campese was born in 1962 in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia. He devoted much of his childhood to golf, Aussie Rules football and Rugby League but in 1979 he decided to concentrate wholly on Rugby Union and never looked back. David played for the Queanbeyan Whites fourth grade in 1979 and was quickly promoted to first grade by 1980.
In 1982, at the age of 19 David was selected for the Australian Wallaby side and made his international debut against New Zealand in Christchurch scoring one try.
Over the next 14 years, David played for Randwick, Waratah and the Wallabies, scoring 64 international tries and making a name for himself as one of the greatest players of Rugby Union of the 20th Century.
On the 23rd October 1996, David became the first Australian rugby player to play 100 tests, when selected to play in the Australia v Italy match in Padova, Italy.
David finished his test career on the 1996 Italy, Scotland, Ireland and Wales tour with his 101st test against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park, on December 1. A crowd of 70,000 gave him a farewell standing ovation.
Orthodox or unorthodox David Campese has always been a memorable entertainer. Fast and elusive and of course with that unique goose step, he has over the years provided us with his own brand of magic on the field.