John Kirwan (rugby)

John Kirwan

KNZM MBE

Birth name	John James Patrick Kirwan
Date of birth	(1964-12-16) 16 December 1964 (age 59)
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Notable relative(s)	Jack Kirwan (grandfather) Niko Kirwan (son) John Ah Kuoi (brother-in-law)[1]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1983–94 Marist () 1985–89 Treviso 60 (184) 1989–90 Thiene () 1997–99 NEC () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1983–94 Auckland 142 () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1984–94 New Zealand 63 (143) Coaching career Years Team 1999–2001 NEC 2001 Blues (assistant) 2001–02 Italy (assistant) 2002–05 Italy 2007–11 Japan 2012 Barbarians 2013–15 Blues Correct as of 18 November 2013
Rugby league career
Playing information
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1995–96 Auckland Warriors 35 52

Sir John James Patrick Kirwan KNZM MBE (born 16 December 1964) is a New Zealand mental health advocate, former rugby union and rugby league player, and former rugby union coach.

A wing, he played for Auckland in the 1980s and 1990s, when they dominated New Zealand rugby. He played in 63 tests for New Zealand, and scored 35 tries, making him one of the highest try scorers in international rugby union history. He was part of the New Zealand team that won the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. He also played rugby league for the Auckland Warriors in their first two seasons in 1995 and 1996.

After retiring, he moved into coaching, and was the head coach of Japanese club NEC, the Italy and Japan national teams, and the Blues in Super Rugby, until he stepped down in 2015.

He has written two books on the subject of mental health, has spoken openly about his battles with depression and been honoured for his services to mental health.