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| Born | Sanchez William Genia[1][2] (1988-01-17)17 January 1988 (age 37) Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 174 cm (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 81 kg (12 st 11 lb; 179 lb)[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Brisbane Boys' College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sanchez William Genia (born 17 January 1988) is an Australian professionalrugby union coach and former player, currently coaching with theKintetsu Liners (花園近鉄ライナーズ) in Japan. Genia's playing position wasscrum-half. He had previously played in theSuper Rugby for theQueensland Reds (2007–2015) andMelbourne Rebels (2018–2019), and finished his career for theKintetsu Liners in Japan. He also had previously played forStade Français in France'sTop 14 from 2015 to 2017.
Born inPort Moresby,Papua New Guinea, he played forAustralia at international level from 2009 to 2019. Genia made his test debut against New Zealand and went on to earn 110 international caps. Former New Zealand scrum-halfJustin Marshall said Genia was "the best in the world for his position".[4]
Genia was born inPort Moresby,Papua New Guinea. He was introduced to rugby union when he moved toBrisbane,Queensland, Australia at the age of 12 for his secondary education atBrisbane Boys' College (BBC), boarding at the school from 2000 to 2005.[2][5] Genia played rugby for the Australia 'A' Schoolboys team in 2005,[6] and was part of theAustralian Under 19 rugby team that won theIRB World Championship in 2006.[7]
Genia'sPapua New Guinean father, Kilroy Genia, is a formerCabinet Minister in the Papua New Guinean government. HisAustralian mother, Elizabeth Genia, was appointed assistant governor and later Governor at theBank of Papua New Guinea in 2011.[2] His older brother,Frank Genia, plays international rugby union forPapua New Guinea Pukpuks .[1][5]
Despite playing 110 tests for Australia and having lived in Australia since he was 12, Genia does not hold Australian citizenship, owing to him playing professional rugby union overseas and the legal requirement for applicants to not have been absent from the country for more than 12 months in total in the four-year period, including no more than 90 days in total in the 12-month period prior to application.[8][9][10][11]
Genia was recruited to theQueensland Reds from theGPS club at the end of 2006 before their tour to Japan and obtained his first state cap for the Reds playing against Japan.[12][13]
Genia made hisSuper 14 debut for the Reds as a 19-year-old against theHurricanes atSuncorp Stadium in Brisbane on 3 February 2007. He shared the scrum half position with starting halfbackNic Berry for most of the season, appearing in 11 of 13 matches for the Reds during the season.[14] Later in 2007, Genia played for theBallymore Tornadoes in theAustralian Rugby Championship, appearing in all 8 games played by the team for the year.[14]
In 2008, Genia added a further seven Super Rugby Caps (although only one starting) for the Reds. He was selected as the first choice scrumhalf for theAustralian Under 20 team for the 2008IRB Junior World Cup in Wales.[12]
Genia played in eight Super Rugby matches in 2009, half of which were starting appearances, and scored four tries during the tournament but missed Queensland's final two matches of the season due to an injured finger tendon.[12]
Genia was selected in the Wallabies squad for the2009 Tri Nations and made his test debut against theAll Blacks atEden Park in Auckland on 18 July 2009. He came off the bench in the first four matches before getting starting berths against theSpringboks in Brisbane, and against the All Blacks in Wellington.[1][12] Genia then started in all five Tests of Australia's Spring Tour of Japan and Europe, before staying on at the tour's end to help theBarbarians beat the All Blacks atTwickenham.[12]
In 2010, Genia captained the Reds after regular captainJames Horwill suffered an injury in the second match of the season. At the end of the season, Genia was voted by his teammates as the 2010 players' player of the year and he won thePilecki Medal. He was also voted the fans' player of the year, winning the People's Choice award.[3]
Genia won the Pilecki Medal again in 2011, and was voted the Australian Super Rugby Player of the Year by Australian rugby writers.[15] He became the 78th Test captain of the Wallabies when he led the side against theUnited States at the2011 Rugby World Cup. He was one of two Australian nominees, alongside David Pocock, for the 2011IRB Player of the Year award.[12]
In April 2012, he signed a new three-year deal with the Reds after turning down a lucrative offer from theForce.[16] In early September Genia suffered a knee injury in Australia's win over South Africa. Genia missed eight Tests in a row and didn't expect to return to domestic action until the Reds play theBulls in Brisbane on 23 March 2013.[17]
It was rumoured that Genia was leaving Australia after the2015 Rugby World Cup, possibly going to the English Club Bath,[18][19] but he left Australia at the start of the 2015–16 season to play forStade Français.
On 15 August 2017, Genia signed with theMelbourne Rebels for the 2018 and 2019 Super Rugby seasons.[20][21]
On 24 November 2018, Genia became just the 10th Wallaby and the second Wallabies halfback afterGeorge Gregan to play 100-Tests forAustralia; playing againstEngland atLondon'sTwickenham Stadium.
On 12 July 2019, Genia announced his test rugby retirement, stating that he will not play for the Wallabies after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, having signed to play forKintetsu Liners in Japan.
| Season | Team | Games | Starts | Sub | Mins | Tries | Cons | Pens | Drops | Points | Yel | Red |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Reds | 10 | 2 | 8 | 241 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | Reds | 7 | 1 | 6 | 246 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | Reds | 8 | 4 | 4 | 396 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | Reds | 13 | 13 | 0 | 1030 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | Reds | 18 | 18 | 0 | 1433 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | Reds | 17 | 17 | 0 | 1360 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | Reds | 12 | 12 | 0 | 906 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | Reds | 13 | 13 | 0 | 981 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | Reds | 16 | 16 | 0 | 1269 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | Rebels | 9 | 9 | 0 | 568 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | Rebels | 14 | 14 | 0 | 1014 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 137 | 119 | 18 | 9444 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 127 | 0 | 0 | |
Genia is an ambassador forThe Kokoda Track Foundation.[23]
| Preceded by | Australian national rugby union captain 2011-2013[citation needed] | Succeeded by |
