Owen Finegan

Owen Finegan Personal information Full name Owen Finegan Date of birth 22 April 1972(1972-04-22) (age 36) Place of birth Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaHeight 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Weight 18 st 12 lbs (120 kg) Nickname(s) Melon School(s) attended Waverley College Club information Position(s) Flanker/ LockCurrent club Leicester TigersNumber 24 Youth clubs Years Club Randwick Rugby ClubSenior clubs* Years Club Apps (points) 1996 ‐ 05
2005 ‐ 06
2006 ‐ 07
2007 ‐ ACT Brumbies
Newcastle Falcons
Leinster
Leicester Tigers90 (155)

1 (0) Representative teams Australia56

* Professional club appearances and points
counted for domestic first grade only.

Owen Finegan (born 22 April 1972 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian international rugby union player. He is nicknamed "Melon" because of his large head.

He was a key performer for the ACT Brumbies from their inception in 1996, joining from Randwick Rugby Club. Finegan played in 90 Super 12 matches for the Brumbies and was one of three remaining foundation players in the 2005 squad. He has helped them to two titles, including captaining them to their 2004 triumph, and scoring a Super 12 record 31 tries for a forward.

He made his international debut against Wales in 1996 and went on to win 56 caps despite having ankle and knee reconstructions, plus operations on both shoulders. He has been an integral part of the Wallabies’ success over the past decade and was named in the Wallaby team of the decade.

The undoubted highlight of Finegan's career came in 1999 when he scored an injury time try as Australia won the Rugby World Cup.

Australia's player of the year in 2001, Finegan was controversially not picked by the Wallabies for the 2003 World Cup on home soil.

In 2005 he signed with English club Newcastle Falcons for two seasons, but was subsequently released after one year. Finegan will play the 2006/7 season in Dublin with the Irish province Leinster, where he will be coached by his former Randwick boss and teammate, Michael Cheika. Finegan has subsequently signed for English Rugby Union team Leicester Tigers on a short term 5 month contract was cover during the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

In 2008 Finegan returned to the ACT Brumbies as Assistance Coach.

Finegan, at one time played for Waverley Rugby Club.