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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neisseria_meningitidis
{{Sportivo
|nome = George Gregan
|nome completo= George Musarurwa Gregan
|sesso = M
|GiornoMeseNascita = 19 aprile
|AnnoNascita = 1973
|luogo nascita = [[Lusaka]]
|paese nascita = {{ZAM}}
|codicenazione = {{AUS}}
|altezza = 173
|peso = 79
|disciplina = Rugby
|ruolo = [[Mediano di mischia]]
|Squadra = {{Rugby Tolone}}
|Squadre = {{Carriera sportivo
|[[1996]]/[[2007|07]]|{{Rugby Brumbies}}|136 (117)
|[[2003]]/-|{{Rugby_Tolone}}||
}}
|Anni nazionale= [[2005]]/-
|nazionale = {{Naz|R15|AUS}}
|presenzenazionale(goal) = 134 (99)
|vittorie={{MedaglieCompetizione|Coppa del Mondo di rugby}} '''[[Coppa del Mondo di rugby 1999|1999]]'''
|aggiornato = [[17 maggio]] [[2008]]
}}
{{Bio
|Nome = George Masururwa
|Cognome = Gregan
|PostCognome=<small>[[Ordine al Merito dell'Australia|AM]]</small>
|Sesso = M
|LuogoNascita = Lusaka
|GiornoMeseNascita = 19 aprile
|AnnoNascita = 1973
|LuogoMorte =
|GiornoMeseMorte =
|AnnoMorte =
|Attività = rugbysta
|Epoca = 2000
|Nazionalità = australiano
|PostNazionalità =, che gioca nelle fila del [[Rugby club toulonnais|Tolone]], squadra che partecipa alla [[Pro D2]], il campionato cadetto francese. Ha giocato con la [[Nazionale di rugby XV dell'Australia|nazionale australiana]] disputando con la maglia dei Wallabies più di 130 partite, e partecipando a tre campionati del mondo. È uno dei pochi giocatori ad aver vissuto il passaggio dal rugby amatoriale a quello professionistico del [[Super 12]], incominciando a giocare per i [[Brumbies]] sin dal primo anno del torneo. In qualità di membro della Nazionale, è stato uno dei protagonisti del rugby mondiale, avendo vinto la [[Coppa del Mondo di rugby 2003|Coppa del Mondo del 1999]], e avendo raggiunto, assieme a [[Stephen Larkham]], il record per la più duratura coppia di mediani della storia delle Nazionali di rugby, con ben 79 partite giocate assieme<ref name="presenze">{{Cita news|lingua=en|url=
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/news/newsid=2019726.html#thanks+memories|titolo=Thanks for the memories|autore=Karen Bond|pubblicazione=rugbyworldcup.com|giorno=19|mese=10|anno=2007|accesso=19/5/2008}}</ref>
|Categorie=[[Categoria:Rugbysti australiani]]
}}
__NOTOC__
==Cenni biografici==
==Early life==
Gregan was born in [[Zambia]], of a [[Zimbabwean]] mother and an Australian father,<ref>[http://www.georgegregan.com/george/ggprofile.html George Gregan - Player Profile<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> coincidentally in the same hospital<ref>[http://www.thegoal.com/players/rugby/krige_corne/captain.html Captain Courageous - Corne Kirge - TheGoal.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> where [[Corné Krige]], who would grow up to be the [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] captain during Gregan's Wallabies captaincy, would be born two years later. His family moved to Australia when he was one year old, and he grew up in [[Canberra]] where he was educated at [[St Edmund's College, Canberra|St Edmund's College]] and graduated from the Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) [[University of Canberra]].
==Rugby career==
Gregan represented Australia at under-19 and under-21 level.
===1994 to 1999===
He made his first appearance for the [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallabies]] in 1994 in a match against [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]] in Brisbane, which the Wallabies won by three points, 23 to 20. He was subsequently capped in the victories over Italy again, and [[Samoa national rugby union team|Western Samoa]].
Later that year, Gregan made a famous try-saving tackle on [[New Zealand national rugby union team|All Black]] [[Jeff Wilson (sportsman)|Jeff Wilson]] that directly led to Australia winning the [[Bledisloe Cup]] that year and is much remembered as one of the greatest moments in the Wallabies-All Blacks rivalry.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/news/Cricket/Wilson-swaps-a-rugby-jersey-for-a-Black-Cap/2005/01/12/1105423557790.html Wilson swaps a rugby jersey for a Black Cap - Cricket - www.smh.com.au<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> After two caps against [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]] the following season, Gregan had so far been on the winning side in all of his international games as Australia entered the [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995 World Cup]] in [[South Africa]] as defending champions. However, Australia made their exit at the quarter finals, losing 25 to 22 to [[England national rugby union team|England]] at [[Newlands Stadium|Newlands]] in [[Cape Town]].
The game went professional post-1995 World Cup, and one outcome of this was the formation of the [[Super 12]], of which Gregan became a foundation player for the [[Brumbies Rugby|ACT Brumbies]] franchise. That season Gregan appeared eight times for the Wallabies, including solid wins over both [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] and [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]] in Brisbane, scoring a try in the Canadian clash. Another outcome of professionalism was the formation of the [[Tri Nations Series]] between Australia, the All Blacks and South Africa. Gregan played in three of Australia's four fixtures at the [[1996 Tri Nations Series|first ever tournament]], scoring a try in the 25 to 32 loss to the All Blacks in Brisbane.
He was elevated to the vice-captaincy of the Wallabies in 1997. In the [[1997 Tri Nations Series]], Gregan scored a try in the opening game against the All Blacks, which was eventually lost 18 to 33, and the Wallabies won only one game, against South Africa, finishing at the bottom of the table. By the end of the year, Gregan was capped another four times.
After winning in two matches against the Irish, and one against England in the winter of 1999 at home, the Wallabies ended up finishing in the middle of the table for the [[1999 Tri Nations Series]] (with Gregan having played in every match), though they were still favourable entering the [[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999 World Cup]] held in [[Wales]]. Australia finished at the top of Pool E, winning all their games, with Gregan playing in the matches against [[Romania national rugby union team|Romania]] and Ireland, though he was rested in the final pool game against the [[United States national rugby union team|USA]]. The Wallabies went onto defeat hosts Wales in the quarter finals at the new [[Millennium Stadium]] with Gregan scoring a try, putting Joe Roff into space and then taking the scoring pass, and enter the final after defeating defending champions South Africa in the semi-finals. The Wallabies became two-time World Champions after defeating [[France national rugby union team|France]] 35 to 12 in the final.
===2001 to 2005===
After the international retirement of [[John Eales]] in 2001, Gregan became the Wallabies captain. He was an obvious choice to fill the role, as it would be a natural progression from his position as vice-captain, as well as the fact that Gregan was a virtual automatic selection for the national team.<ref name="rugbyau">{{cite web | work=rugby.com.au | title= GREGAN NAMED WALLABY CAPTAIN |url=http://www.qru.com.au/news/2001_september/gregan_named_wallaby_captain_12146,8502.html| accessdaymonth=29 July | accessyear=2006}}</ref>
Gregan played in all of Australia's six matches at the [[2003 rugby world cup|2003 Rugby World Cup]]. Gregan landed an early drop goal in the close 17 to 16 victory over [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] in the pool stages. He also scored a try in the 33 to 16 win over [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] in the quarter-finals. He led the Wallabies into the final - defeating the [[All Blacks]] in the semi final but losing to England in the [[2003 rugby world cup#Final|final]].
Following Australia's heartbreaking loss to the English in the World Cup, Gregan led the Wallabies on a massive winning campaign during the 2004 season. After defeating Scotland twice at home, the Wallabies faced the English in a World Cup replay in Brisbane, where they got their revenge, defeating England 51 to 15. Under Gregan, Australia lost just three matches in 2004, one against South Africa, one against New Zealand 16-7 in New Zealand and then against France in Paris. In June 2004, Gregan was appointed to the [[Order of Australia]] for his services to Rugby Union Football and in particular as the Captain of the Wallabies.
In July during the [[2005 Tri Nations Series]], Gregan ran out at [[Subiaco Oval]] in [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]] against South Africa for his 100th Wallaby test.<ref name="century">{{cite web | work=rugby.com.au | title=George Gregan to Play his 100th Test Match |url=http://www.rugby.com.au/news/george_gregan_to_play_his_100th_test_match,19902.html| accessdaymonth=17 June | accessyear=2006}}</ref> In October 2004, Gregan announced that his four-year-old son had epilepsy and has launched an epilepsy awareness campaign in Australia with the slogan 'Get on the Team'. He also took up the role of patron of Brainwave Australia.
Gregan missed a lot of the [[2005 Super 12 season]] after breaking his leg during a game against the [[New South Wales Waratahs]] in Canberra. Gregan returned for the match against Italy in Melbourne, which the Wallabies won 61 to 29. Though after a win over the French and one over the Springboks, the Wallabies fell to the bottom of the [[2005 Tri Nations Series]] table, losing all of their games. With his start in the final match of the 2005 Tri Nations at [[Eden Park]] in [[Auckland]] against the [[All Blacks]], Gregan equalled England's [[Jason Leonard]] as the most-[[Cap (sport)|capped]] player for a national team in Test rugby, with 114 (Leonard also has five [[British and Irish Lions|Lions]] caps). Appropriately, when Australia made their entrance for that match, Gregan went out on the field by himself before any of his team-mates entered the pitch.
On [[5 November]] [[2005]], he earned his 115th [[Cap (sport)|cap]], surpassing Leonard, when he led out the Wallabies at [[Stade Vélodrome]] in [[Marseille]] against [[France national rugby union team|France]]. The Wallabies lost the match 16 to 26. The French loss was followed by a meeting with the English at Twickenham, where England's superior scrummaging saw them also win 26 to 16.
===2006===
In the first test of 2006, under new coach [[John Connolly (rugby)|John Connolly]], the Wallabies completed a solid win over England. Gregan came off the bench in the second half of the second Test in [[Melbourne]] as he earned his 120th international cap - setting a new world record.
After the matches against the English and Irish the Wallabies entered the [[2006 Tri Nations Series]]. Two weeks later the All Blacks came to [[Brisbane]] for the [[Bledisloe Cup]] clash, in which Gregan equalled John Eales' record for most caps as captain of Australia, which is 55.<ref name="equalcaptains">{{cite web | work=sportal.com.au | title=Gregan to level Eales |url=http://www.sportal.com.au/union.asp?i=news&id=86093| accessdaymonth=29 July | accessyear=2006}}</ref> In the subsequent match against South Africa in Sydney, Gregan passed Eales' record, becoming the most capped Australian captain of all time.<ref name="scrumnews">{{cite web | work=scrum.com| title=Gregan happy to win to ugly |url=http://www.scrum.com/news/news_detail.asp?newsid=37187| accessdaymonth=9 August | accessyear=2006}}</ref> The Wallabies managed to scrape home 20 to 18. For the 2006 European Tour, Gregan was rested and [[Matt Giteau]] was given a chance at halfback.
===2007===
On [[March 22]], [[2007]], the French [[Rugby Pro D2|second-division]] club [[RC Toulonnais|Toulon]] announced that it had signed Gregan to a contract for the 2007-08 season. He arrived in France after the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]], and was reportedly paid €400,000 for the season.<ref name=Gregan>{{cite web | publisher=Planet-Rugby.com | title=Gregan puts pen to paper with Toulon | url=http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,9818_2010471,00.html| date=[[22 March]] [[2007]]}}</ref>
Gregan played his last home game with the Brumbies on [[April 28]], [[2007]]; leading his team to a victory over the [[Crusaders (rugby)|Canterbury Crusaders]]. Fittingly, this was also the last home game for his team mate [[Stephen Larkham]], with whom he has shared many a memorable moment on the field. The two were sent off with the announcement that a stand at Canberra Stadium is to be named after them.
He was again selected as part of the Wallabies squad for the 2007 home tests against Wales and Fiji and the Tri-Nations Series, although he was no longer the Captain of the team and was on the reserves bench behind [[Matt Giteau]] for the Tests against Wales. Gregan did regain his starting spot for the first Tri-Nations game against South Africa, showing his class and longevity, as well as Australia's lack of depth at his position. The Wallabies' co-Captains were [[Phil Waugh]] and [[Stirling Mortlock]] but Waugh was dropped to the bench during the Tri-Nations in place of Gregan's Brumbies teammate George Smith, elevationg Mortlock to the captaincy.
In June 2007, Greg Growden, Chief Rugby Correspondent for the [[Sydney Morning Herald]] said that "several high-ranking [[Australian Rugby Union]] sources told the Herald that Gregan was the "raging hot favourite" to be Australia's World Cup captain"<ref>http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2007/06/27/1182623992753.html</ref> However, when the World Cup squad was announced, Mortlock was named Captain, whilst Waugh and Gregan were named vice captains.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==See also==
*[[List of rugby union Test caps leaders]]
*[[Wallaby Team of the Decade]]
==External links==
* [http://www.rugby.com.au/players/wallabies/2007_squad/2007_rwc_squad/gregan_george,62575.html Wallabies profile]
* [http://getontheteam.headlines.org.au George Gregan 'Get on the Team' website.]
* [http://www.eqi.org.au/about/First%20Aid.html George Gregan & Epilepsy Australia's First Aid for households campaign]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=2266 George Gregan on Sporting Heroes]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/3159385.stm Piece about Gregan at BBC]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/5251734.stm Another recent piece about Gregan at BBC]
* [http://www.theroar.com.au/2007/07/10/great-footballer-just-not-a-great-halfback/ Article on Gregan as a great footballer, not a great halfback]
==Note==
{{references}}
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