John Connolly (rugby union coach)
Date of birth | 26 June 1951 | ||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Brisbane | ||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
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John "Knuckles" Connolly (born 26 June 1951, in Brisbane) is a rugby union coach and the former head coach of the Wallabies. Connolly has in the past worked with the Queensland Reds, Stade Français, Swansea RFC as well as Bath Rugby.
As a rugby player, Connolly played hooker for the Brothers club in Brisbane. From 1980 through to 1982, Connolly acted as a player and a coach for a rugby team in Darwin. His first major coaching position was with the Brothers club in Brisbane in 1983, acting as the reserve grade coach for three years, taking the team to two premierships. Subsequent roles came to him as he was appointed as the Under 19s and Under 21s Queensland rugby union coach. In 1989, Connolly took up a coaching position within the Queensland Rugby team. In 1991, Connolly served as an Australian selector. During his time with Queensland, the side won the Super Six in 1992 and the Super 10 Championship in 1994 and 1995.
With the inception of the
He then took up a position at the
In early February 2006 Connolly was appointed as the new head coach of the Australian team.[1] In his first Test in charge, Australia defeated England in the first of two games in Australia. Australia then finished second in the 2006 Tri Nations Series.
Following the defeat to England in the quarter-finals of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Connolly's term as coach of the Wallabies had expired.
He got his nickname, 'Knuckles', as a nightclub bouncer in Darwin years ago.
Connolly suffered serious spinal fractures along with a broken arm and dislocated shoulder after a two-metre fall at his father Jack’s Brisbane home In August 2021.[2]
Politics
In March 2011, Connolly was the Liberal National Party candidate at the 2012 state election in the constituency of Nicklin, facing the long-serving independent MP Peter Wellington.[3] Connolly was not elected, despite a swing in his favour.[4]
Connolly served as the Division 4
In August 2020, Connolly announced he would be running as an independent candidate in the electorate of Maroochydore at the 2020 Queensland state election.[7]
References
- ^ "John Connolly appointed Head Coach of Qantas Wallabies". rugby.com.au. 2 February 2006. Archived from the original on 16 August 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ Jim Tucker (4 August 2021). "John Connolly facing 12-month road to recovery in hospital from spinal injuries after 2m fall". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ Bruce Atkinson (8 March 2011). "Wellington to face competition from rugby coach". ABC News. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ Antony Green (4 April 2012). "Nicklin - Queensland Votes 2012 - ABC News". ABC News. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- The Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- The Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- The Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
External links
- "John Connolly appointed Head Coach of Qantas Wallabies". rugby.com.au. 2 February 2006. Archived from the original on 16 August 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- 'Knuckles' still has point to prove[dead link]
- Spiro Zavos (1 April 2007). "It's the John Connolly versus Eddie Jones Show". theroar.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2012.