Samuel John Cordingley

Sam Cordingley was a tough, skilful, running half-back with a fine pass who would have played many more Tests for Australia than he did had it not been for the presence of George Gregan and a mid-career sojourn in Europe. Educated at St Patrick’s Marist College, Dundas in north-western Sydney, Cordingley did not represent Australia at schoolboys but did so at both U19 and U21 levels. In 1998 he debuted for the ACT Brumbies against Otago however after just one year moved north to Queensland. Cordingley thrived at the Reds, was picked in the Wallaby squad of 2000 and made his Test debut against Argentina in Brisbane.

Injuries cruelled the next two seasons before he was lured overseas by former Reds coach John Connolly to the “Noosa of the United Kingdom” - Swansea. He played one season for The All Whites before the club went into administration, returned home and then had a year away from all rugby in order to concentrate on his studies in exercise science. Cordingley headed back overseas in 2004 to play for Grenoble in France. In 2006 he signed with the Reds, and more than five years after his fifth cap, Cordingley won his sixth in a well earned recall to the national side. Sam Cordingley played 22 Tests for Australia in a nine-year, four season international career.

Highlights

1995

Represented Australian U19s when they defeated New Zealand U19s 20-13 at the Sydney Football Stadium.

1996

Represented Australian U21s against Argentina and New Zealand

1997

Represented Australian U21s when they won the Southern Hemisphere tournament.

2000

Cordingley won his first Test cap off the bench when he replaced George Gregan in the 53-6, 1st Test triumph over Argentina in Brisbane. He picked up four more caps that season including all three on the end-of-season Spring Tour. Cordingley made his run-on XV debut at No.9 in the 18-13 win against France in Paris.

2006

Cordingley won six caps during the domestic season but did not go on the Spring Tour after he opted to undergo surgery for a Lisfranc fracture of his foot.

2007

Rehabilitation from the foot surgery saw him miss the entire Super Rugby season and despite a single cap off the bench against Fiji in Perth he managed to win selection to his first Rugby World Cup. He played two Tests during the tournament, against Fiji in Montpellier and Canada at Bordeaux.

2008

Cordingley earned a career high eight caps, three of which came as the starting halfback, in his final season of Test rugby.