Australian · Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea · Born 17 September 1988Will Genia was a sharp, quick-passing scrum-half who became Australia's most capped player in his position across four Rugby World Cups.
Born Sanchez William Genia in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on 17 January 1988, Will Genia moved to Australia at age 12 and only began playing rugby union at that point. He progressed rapidly through Australian schoolboy, Under-19 and Under-20 ranks before making his Wallabies debut in 2009 against New Zealand. Genia became one of the most electric attacking scrum-halves in world rugby, celebrated for his superb distribution and threatening runs around the fringes of the ruck. He famously ignited the first Test of the 2013 British & Irish Lions series with a searing 60-metre solo break that set up a try for debutant Israel Folau, and produced a similarly stunning individual effort in the 2011 Super Rugby final. Genia captained Australia at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and, in the same tournament cycle, became the 78th Wallaby to lead the side. In 2018, he became just the tenth Australian Test centurion and only the second-ever Australian scrum-half, after George Gregan, to reach 100 caps. Genia played for the Queensland Reds for nine years before spells with the Melbourne Rebels, Stade Français and Kintetsu Liners in Japan, where he later transitioned into coaching. He represented Australia at three Rugby World Cups across a career spanning a decade.
Australia's most-capped scrum-half
How They Played
Electric, instinctive scrum-half with superb distribution and running threat
Lasting Impact
Regarded as one of the finest attacking scrum-halves of his generation
Career Honours
- Rugby Championship titles
Australian Athletes