Matthew Burke

Matthew Burke is one of the superstars of world rugby. Since his Wallaby debut in 1993, the NSW Waratahs skipper and Australian Wallabies vice captain has established himself as one of the game's finest backs, playing Test rugby in three positions: fullback, wing and outside centre. As a goal-kicker, he's consistently proven he's one of the game's all-time greats.
Burke's 63 Test outings to date in Wallaby Gold have netted him 777 points from 25 tries, 156 penalty goals and 92 conversions - second only to Michael Lynagh. His value to Australian rugby was never more dramatically underlined than in the 1999 World Cup final when his unerring right boot provided 25 points in Australia's 37-12 eclipse of France. On the NSW Waratahs front, Burke has now played more matches than any other player and during the 2002 season took his points tally past the 1,000 mark, another Waratahs record.

Rated in 1999 by a panel of experts as the best Australian and NSW Waratahs fullback in the code's history, the former Australian Schoolboys and Australian Under 21 star became Australia's first choice for the No. 15 jersey during the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.

Australia's most capped fullback, Burke, holds numerous inter-national and Australian points scoring records, including most points in Tests in a calendar year (189 points in 11 Tests), most points in Tests against the British Lions (25 points), New Zealand (24 points), France (25 points), Scotland (25 points), in a Test series overseas (74 points in four Tests), against New Zealand (159 points in 14 Tests) and in a Test match (39 points v Canada), most penalty goals in a Test match against South Africa (eight), New Zealand and Wales (both seven), the British Lions (six) and most conversions in a Test match (10 against Spain).