David Kidwell

David Kidwell

Personal information
Full name	David Leon Peter Jamie Kidwell
Born	(1977-04-23)23 April 1977 Christchurch,New Zealand
Playing information
Height	189 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	108 kg (17 st 0 lb)
Position	Second-row,Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1997–98 Adelaide Rams 16 2 0 0 8 1999–00 Parramatta Eels 33 8 0 0 32 2001–02 Warrington Wolves 32 12 0 0 48 2002 Sydney Roosters 19 3 0 0 12 2003–06 Melbourne Storm 103 18 0 0 72 2007–09 South Sydney 38 3 0 0 12 Total 241 46 0 0 184 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1999–08 New Zealand 25 4 0 0 16 2000 Aotearoa Māori 3 1 0 0 4
Coaching information
Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 2016–18 New Zealand 11 4 1 6 36 2020–22 Māori All Stars 3 2 1 0 67
Source:

David Kidwell(born 23 April 1977) is a professionalrugbycoachwho is the defence coach atLos Pumas,the national rugby union team ofArgentina,and a former rugby league player. As a player, he representedNew Zealandas a member of the2005 Tri-Nationsand2008 World Cupwinning New Zealand teams.He primarily played as asecond-row,though he started his career as acentre.

Background

Kidwell was born inChristchurch,New Zealand.

Playing career

A Hornby Panthers junior in theCanterbury Rugby Leaguecompetition, in 1995 Kidwell played in theLion Red Cupfor theCanterbury Country Cardinals.

He then joined theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogsin 1996 and also made the1996 Junior Kiwisthat year. He made his first grade début on 17 August 1997 in round 17 for theAdelaide Ramsagainst Canberra at Canberra Stadium. In 1999, Kidwell joined Parramatta and played in the clubs heart breaking preliminary final loss to Melbourne that year where the club was leading 16-6 but lost 18–16. Kidwell was selected for theNew Zealand teamto compete in the end of season1999 Rugby League Tri-Nationstournament. In the final againstAustraliahe played from the interchange bench in the Kiwis' 22–20 loss. Between 2001 and 2002, Kidwell played for Warrington in theSuper League.In 2002, Kidwell joined the Sydney Roosters, he played 18 games for the club but missed out on playing in the clubs2002 NRL Grand Finalvictory over theNew Zealand Warriors.

In 2003, Kidwell joined Melbourne playing a total of 103 games for the club including the2006 NRL Grand FinalwhereBrisbaneupset Melbourne 15–8. Even if Melbourne had won this premiership, it later would have been stripped for salary cap breaches. During 2006, Kidwell signed a pre-contract agreement to represent theSouth Sydney Rabbitohsuntil 2009.

In the2007 pre-season,it was announced that Kidwell would be co-captain of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, along withPeter Cusackfor 2007. In April 2007, Kidwell was ruled out for the season after suffering a freak accident at home where he tripped over one of his children and injured his knee. At the end of 2007 Kidwell was named in theMelbourne Storm team of the decade. After failing an alcohol test on 2 May 2008, the South Sydney club stripped Kidwell of his co-captaincy and four others who failed were relegated to the bench for their Sunday match against North Queensland. Kidwell retired from rugby league at the end of the 2009 season.

Representative career

Kidwell made his New Zealand début in 1999.

Kidwell playing for the Kiwis at the 2008 RLWC

Kidwell (right) performing theHakafor New Zealand in 2008

In August 2008, Kidwell was named in theNew Zealand training squadfor the2008 Rugby League World Cup,and in October 2008, he was named in the final 24-manKiwisquad.

Coaching career

Kidwell was appointed the RabbitohsToyota Cup(Under 20s competition) coach for 2010. They finished minor premiers that year and made the Grand Final, but were defeated 42–28 by theUnder 20sNew Zealand Warriors.He later worked as an assistant coach at theMelbourne Stormunder Craig Bellamy. On 16 September 2013 it was announced that he would be joining theWests Tigersin 2014 as an assistant coach.

Kidwell joined theNew Zealand national rugby league teamas an assistant coach in 2014. After Stephen Kearney left the role of being the head coach of the New Zealand national team in 2016, Kidwell was later appointed as the new Kiwis head coach, Kidwell oversaw a brief but embarrassing era for New Zealand Rugby League in which they lost two World Cup matches to tier-2 nations, and fluked a draw against another in the 2016 Four Nations tournament. A series of critical failures in team culture and management led to disappointing results and a mass exodus of players. One notable player to leave the team was Jason Taumololo. Taumololo defected to Tonga, who defeated New Zealand in a World Cup pool match. Kidwell was replaced by Michael Maguire after failing to make the semi-finals of the 2017 World Cup.

In 2018, Kidwell was appointed as assistant coach at one of his former clubs TheParramatta Eels.

In May 2022 it was announced that Kidwell had been appointed defensive coach of the Argentina rugby union side, by head coach Michael Cheika.

Kiwis coaching record

Opponent	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	Win Ratio (%)
Australia	4	0	0	4	00.00
England	1	1	0	0	100.00
Fiji	1	0	0	1	00.00
Samoa	1	1	0	0	100.00
Scotland	2	1	1	0	50.00
Tonga	1	0	0	1	00.00
TOTAL	10	3	1	6	30.00

World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	D
Australia/New Zealand/Papua New Guinea 2017	Quarter-Final	5/14	4	2	2	0
Total	0 Titles	0/1	4	2	2	0

Four Nations record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	D
England 2016	Second Place	2/4	4	1	2	1
Total	0 Titles	0/1	4	1	2	1

Anzac Test
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	D
2017 Anzac Test	Second Place	2/2	1	0	1	0
Total	0 Titles	0/1	1	0	1	0

Other Test matches
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	D
2016	Second Place	2/2	1	0	1	0
Total	0 Wins	0/1	1	0	1	0

External links

• Profile at melbournestorm.com.au
• Profile at warringtonwolves.rivals.net
• Freak injury ends Kidwell season
• Profile at souths.com.au
• Coaching Profile at rabbitohs.com.au