Simon Poidevin

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Simon Poidevin


caption =
birthname = Simon Paul Poidevin
nickname = Poido
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1958|10|31
placeofbirth = Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
height =
weight =
ru_position = Flanker
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = Australia
ru_nationalyears = 1980–1991
ru_nationalcaps = 59
ru_nationalpoints = (25)
ru_ntupdate = 24 May 2007
university = University of NSW

Simon Paul Poidevin OAM (born 31 October 1958) is a former Australian rugby union player.

Rugby union career

Born in Goulburn, New South Wales, Poidevin played rugby at St Patrick's College (now Trinity Catholic College) in New South Wales, and made the Australian Schoolboy side. Upon finishing school he played a season with the Goulburn Rugby Union Football Club and then, in 1978, he moved to Sydney to study at the University of New South Wales, from which he graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science (Hons). [ [http://www.science.unsw.edu.au/guide/fame.html Faculty of Science Hall of Fame] , University of New South Wales.] He made his first grade debut with the university's rugby union team in 1978, and the next year was playing for the New South Wales Waratahs.

International career

Poidevin made his Test debut for the Wallabies on 24 March 1980 in a match against Fiji, which Australia won 22-9. He played over 59 caps for the Wallabies, becoming the first Australian to play 50 Tests. He captained the team on four occasions. His final appearance with the Wallabies was against England in the Grand Final of the 1991 Rugby World Cup at Twickenham, won by Australia 12-6. [ [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=1415 Simon Poidevin] , "Sporting Heroes: a photographic encyclopedia of sport".]

Life after rugby

After retiring from the Wallabies in 1991, Poidevin became a stockbroker, although he maintained his links to rugby by working as a television commentator for the Seven Network and Network Ten. [ [http://www.sevencorporate.com.au/page.asp?partid=225 Seven's Broadcast Team] , Seven Network, 2 October 2003.] He is currently a Managing Director of Equity Sales at Citigroup in Australia. [ "Citigroup Global Directory", 30 August 2007.]

Honours

*26 January 1988: Medal of the Order of Australia for service to rugby union football. [ [http://itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=887374&search_type=quick&showInd=true POIDEVIN, Simon Paul] , "Australian Honours Database".]
*29 September 2000: Australian Sports Medal [ [http://itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=968704&search_type=quick&showInd=true POIDEVIN, Simon] , "Australian Honours Database".]

References