Rod Macqueen
Australia
player portrait
Full name Rod Macqueen
Born December 31, 1949, Sydney
Current age 74 years 88 days
Major teams Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels, New South Wales Waratahs, Australia
Other Coach
Profile

A World Cup winning coach and a successful businessman, Rod Macqueen is widely recognised as one of rugby's great innovators.

Having played over 200 games for Warringah and Eastwood in Australia, Macqueen took his first coaching job at the NSW Waratahs in 1991 and would join the national set-up the following year as a selector.

Macqueen joined the Brumbies as head coach in 1996 but left them the following year to take on the Wallabies. During his four year stint as coach, the Wallabies enjoyed unprecedented success winning and retaining the Bledisloe Cup four times, claiming the Tri-Nations crown (2001), beating the British & Irish Lions (2001) and most famously, winning the 1999 Rugby World Cup with a 35-12 victory over France in the tournament finale.

His tenure also saw them claim the Cook Cup, Hopetoun Cup, Lansdowne Cup, Puma Trophy, Mandela Challenge Plate and the Trophee des Bicentenaries. He retired following his side's historic success over the Lions in 2001 with an impressive 81% winning ratio.

It was during his time at the Brumbies and then the Wallabies that he earned a reputation as an innovator, introducing two new facets to the modern game which are now taken for granted. He was the first coach to split lineouts into two pods and in 1999 introduced computer analysis to the players so they could prepare for specific opponents.

He was named the IRB Coach of the Year award in 2001, made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2003 and in 2004 scooped the Joe French Award, which recognises outstanding service to the Australian Rugby Union.

Macqueen also sat on the IRB Rugby Committee between 2005 and 2009 and was part of the ill-fated Experimental Law Variations task group. In January 2010, he announced he was coming out of retirement to head up the newly formed Melbourne Rebels who made their Super Rugby bow in 2011 - finishing last out of the Australian sides.

In June 2011, it was reported that Macqueen will step down from his position at the Rebels head coach to take up a role behind the scenes in the Melbourne franchise.

In 2001 he published a highly-regarded book, One Step Ahead, in which he discusses his successes in both business and sport.

Latest Articles
Cipriani commits future to the Rebels (Jun 18, 2011) Somerville to hang up his boots (Jun 16, 2011) Macqueen steps aside at Rebels (Jun 13, 2011) Macqueen set to quit Rebels (Jun 13, 2011) Cipriani cleared for Rebels comeback (Jun 7, 2011) Rod Macqueen news and articles (6) »
Latest Photos
Jun 17, 2011
The Rebels' Gareth Delve, Rod Macqueen and Stirling Mortlock pose following their final game of the season
The Rebels' Gareth Delve, Rod Macqueen and Stirling Mortlock pose following their final game of the season
©  Getty Images
May 3, 2011
Melbourne Rebels coach Rod Macqueen talks to Peter Betham
Melbourne Rebels coach Rod Macqueen talks to Peter Betham
©  Getty Images
Mar 8, 2011
Rebels head coach Rod Macqueen talks to the media
Rebels head coach Rod Macqueen talks to the media
©  Getty Images
Feb 2, 2011
Stirling Mortlock, Rod Macqueen and Gareth Delve
Stirling Mortlock, Rod Macqueen and Gareth Delve
©  Getty Images
Rod Macqueen rugby photos (6) »

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