Nick Phipps
Birth nameNicholas James Phipps
Date of birth (1989-01-09) 9 January 1989 (age 35)
Place of birthBaulkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight88 kg (13 st 12 lb; 194 lb)
SchoolThe King's School, Parramatta
UniversitySydney University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017
2018
2019–2022
2022-		 Greater Sydney Rams
Sydney Rays
London Irish
Green Rockets Tokatsu		 1
1
64		 (5)
(0)
(47)
Correct as of 19 August 2022
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2013
2014–2019		 Rebels
Waratahs		 47
87		 (30)
(90)
Correct as of 19 August 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2019 Australia 72 (40)
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2009–2010 Australia Sevens
Medal record
Men's rugby sevens
Representing  Australia
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2010 Delhi Team competition

Nicholas James Phipps (born 9 January 1989) is an Australian rugby union player who played for the Australia national team and plays for Green Rockets Tokatsu in the Japan Rugby League One competition.

Early life

Phipps with the Waratahs in 2017.
Phipps playing for the Rebels in 2011.

Phipps was educated at The King's School and in 2009 captained Sydney University's premiership-winning 1st Colts team.[1] He is currently studying a Masters of International Business at Sydney University.[2]

Rugby playing career

Club level

Phipps signed to the Melbourne Rebels in July 2010.[1] Phipps mentors for the 2011 Super Rugby season included former Wallaby halfback Sam Cordingley.[3] Phipps said he was looking forward to learning from his fellow halfbacks, Cordingley, and Kingi, and also from Rebels centre (and former Wallaby) Julian Huxley.[1]

In May 2012 Phipps combined with Kurtley Beale in the halves (9 & 10) against the Bulls from South Africa.[4] Beale had been moved from fullback to flyhalf following Danny Cipriani's unexpected departure from the Rebels.[5] Phipps scored a try under the posts.[6]

Phipps moved back to Sydney to play for the Waratahs commencing 2014.[7][8]

Rebels coach Damien Hill said, "Nick has played a major part in laying the foundations of this Club and it is disappointing to see him leave. He replicates our team ethos in everything he does, both on a off the rugby field."[9]

The Wallabies and Waratahs scrum half re-signed with the ARU and NSW Waratahs in January 2017 for a two-year contract extension that takes Phipps through to the end of the 2019 season. In March 2017 he brought up his 100th super rugby cap.[10]

On 1 February 2019, Phipps travel to England to join London Irish in the English Premiership ahead of the 2019–20 season.[11]

International career

His grandfather and great uncle, both called Jim, played for the Wallabies.[12] Following the rich family culture within rugby Phipps made his international debut playing for Australia in the 2009 IRB Sevens World Series.[1]

Phipps played in the Australian Sevens at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, in Delhi.[13] He scored a try and kicked eight conversions in his Games' debut.[1][14] Australia went on to win Silver, losing the final to New Zealand.[13]

In late 2010 Phipps toured with the Wallabies,[15] and was named on the bench against the Leicester Tigers.[16] In August 2011 Phipps became one of three halfbacks selected for the Wallabies in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.[17][18] Phipps played 26 minutes for the Wallabies against Russia.[19] He was one of three Rebels to play in the tournament, the others being new signings James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale.[20] He has continued his international career playing and appearing in the bench frequently since his debut in the green and gold.

After almost two years since Phipps started for the Wallabies on home soil, he was chosen for his 29th start in a Wallabies jersey in the third deciding test against Ireland.[21]

As at 30 June 2018 Phipps has played in 64 Tests for the Wallabies since debuting at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.[22]

Awards

Personal life

Phipps married Ebony in 2018[25] and welcomed son Huxley in early 2019.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Du Plessis, Phipps and Pyle join the Melbourne Rebels". Heavens Game. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  2. ^ "Nick Phipps commits to ARU until end of 2019". Sydney University Football. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  3. ^ Paxinos, Stathi (1 October 2010). "Mentor Cordingley to take on young guns". The Age. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  4. ^ "Beale relishing fly half role – ABC Grandstand Sport (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  5. ^ Rebels Media Unit (30 April 2012). "Cipriani to return home to pursue England dream" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  6. ^ Stevenson, Andrew (4 May 2012). "Brave Rebels fall short in thriller" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  7. ^ Waratahs Media Unit (16 March 2013). "Nick Phipps confirms move to Waratahs" (Press release). Waratahs. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  8. ^ "Phipps to help Tahs run..." Rugby 365. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  9. ^ Rebels Media Unit (16 March 2013). "Nick Phipps announces his departure from the Rebels at season's end" (Press release). Rebels. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  10. ^ "'I just wasn't ready to leave': Why Phipps re-signed with the ARU". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  11. ^ "London Irish: Australia pair Nick Phipps and Curtis Rona to join club next season". BBC Sport. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  12. ^ AAP (11 July 2011). "Another Tongan eager to be a Wallaby". Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  13. ^ a b Smith, Wayne (13 October 2010). "Bledisloe pain all over again in sevens thriller". The Australian. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  14. ^ "Nick Phipps player profile". Melbourne Rebels. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  15. ^ Beniuk, David (13 November 2010). "Cipriani finally ready to Rebel". Australian Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  16. ^ Rebels Media Unit (8 November 2010). "Rebel Phipps Awaits Wallabies Debut" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  17. ^ Robinson, Georgina (19 August 2011). "Uni graduate Phipps keen to learn from World Cup experience". The Age. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  18. ^ Rebels Media Unit (10 July 2011). "Phipps to fight for Wallabies number nine" (Press release). Melbourne Rebels. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  19. ^ "Official RWC 2011 Site – Australia – Nick Phipps". Rwc2011.irb.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  20. ^ ARU (10 July 2011). "Qantas Wallabies Squad For Samoa Test & Tri Nations Named" (Press release). Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  21. ^ Decent, Tom (19 June 2018). "'Filthy' Phipps relishing chance to steer Wallabies to series victory". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  22. ^ "Phipps won't overplay against the Irish". SBS News. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Wallaby Nick Phipps wins in the bloke's health scrum". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  24. ^ "Nick Phipps named 2017 Male Blue of the Year". Sydney University Football Club. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  25. ^ Newman, Sam Phillips and Beth (22 April 2018). "One Percenters: Phipps fits wedding into bye week, Cheika heads north | Latest Rugby News | RUGBY.com.au". rugby.com.au. Retrieved 31 August 2021.

External links

Green Rockets Tokatsu โ€“ current squad
Australia squad โ€“ 2015 Rugby World Cup runners-up
Australia squad โ€“ 2011 Rugby World Cup third place
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