James Slipper
Prop
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Profile
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Height:
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186cm
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Weight:
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117kg
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Date Of Birth:
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06/06/1989
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Place of Birth:
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Gold Coast, QLD
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Rugby Career
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Senior Club:
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Rugby Gold Coast
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Stats
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Provincial Rugby Caps:
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46
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Provincial Rugby Points:
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15 (3t)
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Provincial Rugby Debut:
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Feb 2010 v NSW Waratahs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
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Super Rugby Caps:
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46
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Super Rugby Points:
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15 (3t)
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Super Rugby Debut:
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Feb 2010 v NSW Waratahs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
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Test Rugby Caps:
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34
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Test Rugby Debut:
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June 2010 v England, Perth
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James Slipper was the St.George Queensland Reds standout performer in 2012, not missing a single game and becoming just the second prop in Queensland Rugby history to win the prestigious Pilecki Medal, awarded to the Players’ Player of the Year.
A versatile prop, James’ record 272 Pilecki Medal votes surpassed the previous mark set by Will Genia in 2011, polling in the top three for eight matches during the season including four of the last five critical rounds of the regular competition.
Needing wins in their final three rounds to ensure a finals appearance, James rose to the task for the Reds, crashing over for the lone try during the round 17 clash with the Highlanders before pouncing on an overthrown lineout throw from Tatafu Polota Nau to bag another try against the Waratahs in round 18.
Along with an internal Man of the Match award for his solitary try against the Highlanders, James earned the honour on two other occasions during the 2012 season, including the round 14 Rod Macqueen Cup clash with the Brumbies and the qualifying final loss to the Sharks.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie summed up Slipper’s 2012 performance and Pilecki Medal win when he said: “To win the award as a prop is a massive accomplishment as the nature of the position and the value of their contribution is sometimes underrated by the general public who are naturally inclined to recognise the flashier involvements made by other players in games. However, James’ set-piece work was a real highlight of his year, along with the physicality in which he approaches the defensive side of the game. He is also an extremely mobile and skilful player for a man of his size, and it’s this unique combination which allows the team to be able to offer such variety in attack.”
James’ starring performances and capabilities at both sides of the scrum haven’t gone unnoticed at national level and he has quickly become a reliable staple within the Wallabies squad, including their 2012 Rugby Championship campaign.
The remarkable success story of 2010, James went from QAS Academy squad member and Super Rugby debutant to play all but one of the Wallabies’ Tests that season, continuing to consolidate his rapid rise since with powerful scrummaging.
James excelled in his second season of Super Rugby in 2011, playing an instrumental role during 14 games in the Reds’ championship winning campaign. But a cruel ankle injury in the final regular-season game against the Chiefs ruled him out of the semi-final and final successes, although he recovered for selection in both the Wallabies initial 40-man and World Cup squads.
Voted the 2009 Australian Under-20 Player of the Year on the basis of his performances at the Junior World Cup in Japan, he was fast tracked into the wider Reds squad by coach Ewen McKenzie during 2010 and blooded off the bench during a narrow opening round loss to the NSW Waratahs.
He was required just once more off the bench prior to the Reds closing fixture against the Highlanders, where he was granted a start in the absence of the injured Ben Daley.
His performance that night, matching up against a well-performed Highlanders front-row, encouraged Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to include James among the Australian Barbarians group to play midweek matches against England.
His developmental role was subsequently transformed into Wallabies selection once Ben Alexander strained his medial ligaments, with James’ ability to play on both sides of the front-row seeing the young Queenslander propelled into the Test squad after his dynamic cameo from the bench in the Barbarians 28-28 draw in Perth.
James made his debut in difficult circumstances, coming off the bench when the Wallabies scrum was being hammered in Australia’s 27-17 win over England at Perth. Despite his youth and inexperience, James quickly came to terms with what was required and showed marked improvement in his scrummaging during that and subsequent games.
DID YOU KNOW?
James Slipper and fellow Reds prop Ben Daley share a unique bond in that both have been playing rugby together since they were 14 years old on the Gold Coast. Before Slipper became just the second prop in Queensland Rugby history to win the Pilecki Medal, it was Ben who led the way for all props in voting. In 2010, Ben finished in third while in 2011 he finished sixth.
***Updated 14/05/2013***