Drew Mitchell

Drew Mitchell
Mitchell in 2013
Full name Drew Alan Mitchell
Date of birth (1984-03-26) 26 March 1984
Place of birth Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Weight 92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
School St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Wing / Fullback
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2013– Toulon 51 (65)
correct as of 2 May 2015.
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2004–06
2007–09
2010–13		 Reds
Force
Waratahs		 35
38
39		 (55)
(45)
(85)
Current local club RC Toulon
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2005–
2001		 Australia
Australian Schoolboys		 71
5		 (170)
0
correct as of 10 September 2016.

Drew Alan Mitchell (born 26 March 1984) is an Australian rugby union player. He usually plays on the wing or as fullback. Up to the 2006 season he played for the Queensland Reds. He played for the Western Force for the 2007–09 Super 14 seasons. From 2010 to 2013 he played for the New South Wales Waratahs. Since 2013 he has played for RC Toulon He made his debut for Australia in 2005 and is Australia's highest try scorer in World Cup history.

Early life

Mitchell was educated at St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe and played his junior rugby for the Pine Rivers PUMAS Rugby Union club, going on to play rugby for University. Mitchell went on to captain the Queensland Academy of Sport U-19 team as well as going on to be an Australian Schoolboy and Sevens international.

Career

Mitchell in 2013

Mitchell made his international debut for the Wallabies against South Africa in 2005, after being selected after a season with the Queensland Reds in which he scored 11 tries and was named Australia's rookie of the year.

His international career stalled after Australia's autumn international tour in 2005, and he didn't feature for the Wallabies again until Wales visited in 2007. By this time Mitchell had switched to newly formed Western Force and impressed enough to gain a place in the Australia squad for the 2007 World Cup in France. He scored seven tries during that tournament.

Mitchell's domestic future again had a period of speculation when he was approached by the NSW Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies ahead of the 2010 Super Rugby season. Mitchell eventually signed for the NSW Waratahs, replacing Sam Norton-Knight.

Mitchell dislocated his ankle and broke a bone in his leg after he collided with Scott Higginbotham of the Reds during their match on Saturday, 23 April and was initially ruled out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. However, he subsequently made a full recovery and was included in Australia's tournament squad. He made one substitute appearance against Ireland and in two starts scored one try against the USA and two against Russia. He injured his hamstring in the final pool stage match of the 2011 World Cup, and missed the remainder of the tournament. In the lead up to the 2012 Super Rugby season Mitchell suffered an ankle problem, and missed the Waratahs pre-season games.[1] He did not play any games in the first half of the competition, making only five appearances all season.[2]

In 2013, he agreed a two-year deal to play for Toulon for the 2012–13 Top 14 season.[3]

2015

Drew's international career turned to a stand still after he left the Super Rugby back in 2013, but with the Australian Rugby change of rules to the eligibility of overseas based Australian Rugby players under Giteau's law, Drew along with Toulon teammate Matt Giteau was included in the Wallabies 2015 Rugby Championship squad. With solid performances playing against the Springboks in the 24–20 win at Suncorp Stadium, and the 27–19 win against the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium. Mitchell was included in the Wallabies 31 man 2015 Rugby World Cup Squad.

References

  1. ↑ AAP (2012-02-12). "Mitchell battles ankle woes". Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  2. ↑ Growden, Greg (2012-02-20). "Tahs forced to field young guns as Mitchell faces long lay-off". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
  3. ↑ "Mitchell says 'oui' to Toulon". Sport24. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/10/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.