John Eales

Profile

John Eales

Wallaby Captain –86 tests for Australia.

Achievement, business, motivation. Sport



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Former Queensland and Australia lock John Eales will be remembered as one of the all-time great rugby players. His retirement from Rugby in September 2001 marked the end of an era for the Australian game. Not only is he the second-most capped Wallaby ever, he is also the most capped Wallaby captain.

Indeed so highly is John remembered that an elite group of experts, including former national coaches Bob Dwyer, David Brockoff and ex-Wallaby Jeff Miller recently voted John as the No.1 player Australia has produced.

John participated in two successful World Cup campaigns, captained the Wallabies in memorable victories including the 1999 World Cup, led Australia through four successive years of Bledisloe Cup wins and two successful Tri-Nations campaigns. He also led the Wallabies to their first ever series victory over the British and Irish Lions.

Eales has been a great ambassador for the sport and his sense of fair play and genial nature made him one of the most respected figures in world rugby.

In a career that spanned 10 years, John played 86 Tests for Australia, captaining them on 55 occasions accumulating 173 test points. During this time he was regarded as the most outstanding forward in world rugby. His athleticism and natural leadership qualities making him an automatic selection in any World XV.

On news of his retirement, tributes flooded in from far and wide. Australian Prime Minister John Howard said: "I wish to record my admiration for the magnificent contribution that John Eales has made to the game of rugby, and to Australian and international sport. John Eales has been an inspirational leader, an outstanding and courageous player, and an example to all in the way he has conducted himself on and off the field".

In 2002, John started a new phase in his life transferring his leadership skills to the corporate world. He now has an executive role with BT Financial Group and is an Ambassador for the Australian Rugby Union and VISA. In the lead up to RWC 2003, John will play a significant role in promotional activities not only for the ARU and VISA but also various other sponsors.

John Eales 5, the company of which he is a part owner and Director was established to capitalise on corporate opportunities that were presented to John, consistent with his brand, ideas and interests. His brother Damian and Management Company, IQ, are the other shareholders of this entity.

Topics

• Achievement
• Business
• Motivation
• Sport

Articles

Business can learn from sport:

Q & A with Former Wallaby captain John Eales

How can the corporate world learn lessons from the sporting arena?

John:

Sport represents a lot of what you go through in your daily lives in your business careers. Many of the key areas for success - such as coaching, teamwork and culture are less identifiable in corporations than in sporting teams but are just as important.

For example, in sport it is widely accepted that players at all levels, including the most experienced, require coaching - but in business there's just an expectation to always perform well.

What can learn from the sporting arena when work gets hard?

John:

Corporations, like teams, need to have faith in the abilities of each of their members, particularly as they move through periods of change. And remember all change looks like a failure in the middle – so that's when you've got to have faith.

Faith enabled teams or corporations to remain composed even in the face of aggressive competition.

Or in say the case of the Wallabies staring in the face of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team performing the haka before a match?

John:

Yes. Another example of sporting faith is sprinter named Carl Lewis, who in 1991 was coming last at the halfway mark in the 100 meters final at the World Championships, and ended up winning the race in world record time.

When Lewis was asked to explain how he moved from last to first place, Lewis replied that he simply didn't run any faster.

This shows Lewis’ great faith in his own abilities - something corporations could emulate.

What about work life balance, John?

John:

There is a need for balance in the lives of both sports stars and company executives - many chief executives give 100 per cent of their lives to their jobs, making promises to their spouses that they will "make it up to them in 15 years” - Although being passionate is important for success, it isn't as significant as having the right culture and teamwork.

Passion is probably about five per cent of achievement in sport. People would probably be surprised at that.

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