David Kirk

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = David Kirk

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MBE|size=100%}}

| image =

| birth_name = David Edward Kirk

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|10|5}}

| birth_place = Wellington, New Zealand

| occupation = Chief Executive Officer/Director of Rugby

| school = Wanganui Collegiate School

| university = University of Otago
Worcester College, Oxford

| height = {{convert|1.73|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|73|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

| position = Halfback

| repteam1 = {{nrut|New Zealand}}

| repteam2 = NZ Universities

| repyears1 = 1983–87

| repyears2 = 1983-85

| repcaps1 = 17

| repcaps2 = 9

| reppoints1 = 24

| reppoints2 = 4

| province1 = Otago

| province2 = Auckland

| provinceyears1 = 1982–84

| provinceyears2 = 1985–87

| provinceapps1 = 27

| provinceapps2 = 40

| provincepoints1 = 24

| provincepoints2 = 48

| ru_provinceupdate =

}}

David Edward Kirk {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MBE}} (born 5 October 1960) 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.

Early years

Kirk was born in Wellington and grew up in Palmerston North.{{cite news|url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/810134/David-Kirk-now-half-Australian | author=Fairfax NZ News |title=David Kirk now half Australian |date=26 January 2009 |work= stuff |access-date=16 January 2013}} He was educated at Russell Street School, Wanganui Collegiate School, and the University of Otago, where he graduated with a medical degree MB ChB.

Rugby union career

Kirk played domestic rugby for Otago 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 Rugby Heroes] 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,{{cite web |url=http://allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=showHistory&newsArticle=298 |title=All Blacks at the World Cup |publisher=All Blacks |date=26 November 2003 |access-date=25 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403141521/http://www.allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=showHistory&newsArticle=298 |archive-date=3 April 2007}} Kirk was made captain—and led New Zealand to victory over France in the 1987 Rugby World Cup Final.

He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1988 New Year Honours, for services to rugby.{{London Gazette |issue=51173 |page=34 |date=31 December 1987 |supp=3}}

=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)

Post-rugby life

Kirk abruptly retired from competitive rugby after the World Cup win, at the age of 26, to take up a Rhodes Scholarship 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, he sought the party's nomination for the 1992 Tamaki by-election, losing to Clem Simich.{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5069807/David-Kirk-tells-of-life-after-rugby |title=David Kirk tells of life after rugby |last=Hubbard |first= Anthony |date=29 May 2011 |work=Stuff |access-date=27 September 2011}} Kirk was also a staffer for Prime Minister Jim Bolger, and worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. Later he was employed by Fletcher Challenge, then New Zealand's largest company, and one of its successors, Fletcher Energy.

From October 2005 to December 2008http://nz.biz.yahoo.com/081205/3/9mfr.html {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} 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 wrote articles for Fairfax - commentating on rugby when journalists were on strike.

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).{{cite press release |url=http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid=2060049.html#rwc+legends+inducted+into+irb+hall+fame |title=RWC legends inducted into IRB Hall of Fame |publisher=International Rugby Board |date=26 October 2011 |access-date=26 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027230745/http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid%3D2060049.html#rwc+legends+inducted+into+irb+hall+fame |archive-date=27 October 2011}}

=Current business roles=

Co-founder and current Managing Partner of Bailador Investment Management
Chairman of the Board at The Hoyts Group, a position he has held since July 2009
Chairman of the Board at Trade Me Group.{{cite web |url=http://www.fxj.com.au/shareholders |title=Fairfax Media Limited (FXJ): Redirects to News & Announcements |access-date=2011-11-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211174025/http://www.fxj.com.au/shareholders/ |archive-date=11 December 2011}}

/091111TradeMeIPOlodged.pdf

Chairman of Standard Media Index Ltd (investee of Bailador).

He is also a director of a number of companies, including:

Forsyth Barr Ltd[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10562538 "David Kirk appointed to Forsyth Barr board"], 2009, NZ Herald
Pacific Fibre Ltd
Viocorp International Ltd (investee of Bailador)

Kirk was a member of the Lord Howe Island Board, having been appointed by the NSW Minister for the Environment as the representative of business and tourism on the board, a specified position on the board.{{Cite web|last=Anonymous|date=2015-06-19|title=David Kirk MBE - Appointed Member|url=https://www.lhib.nsw.gov.au/council/board-members/john-king-oam-appointed-member-representing-interests-business-and-tourism|access-date=2020-10-11|website=www.lhib.nsw.gov.au|language=en|archive-date=14 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014130319/https://www.lhib.nsw.gov.au/council/board-members/john-king-oam-appointed-member-representing-interests-business-and-tourism|url-status=dead}} He was appointed on 27 November 2018 and served until 26 November 2021.

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20071004214215/http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/ABProfilee.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&IDID=463 David Kirk] profile at New Zealand Rugby Museum
[http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/whole-new-ball-game-for-david-kirk/2005/08/26/1124563026540.html "Whole new ball game"] — Sydney Morning Herald biography published 27 August 2005
{{All Blacks|new_id=David-Kirk-AB-843|old_id=463}}
{{ESPNscrum|9706}}
{{World Rugby Hall of Fame|706479}}

Category:1960 births

Category:New Zealand international rugby union players

Category:Alumni of Worcester College, Oxford

Category:Living people

Category:World Rugby Hall of Fame inductees

Category:New Zealand rugby union players

Category:Oxford University RFC players

Category:New Zealand Rhodes Scholars

Category:Rugby union scrum-halves

Category:University of Otago alumni

Category:People educated at Whanganui Collegiate School

Category:New Zealand republicans