Drew Mitchell

Drew Allan Mitchell (born 26 March 1984) is an Australian former professional rugby union player. He played on the wing or as fullback. Up to the 2006 season he played for the Queensland Reds in the Super 12. He played for the Western Force for the 2007–2009 Super 14 seasons. From 2010 to 2013 he played for the New South Wales Waratahs. And between 2013 and 2017 he played for Toulon in the French Top 14 competition. He made his Test debut for Australia in 2005, making 71 caps by his retirement. He is Australia's highest try-scorer in Rugby World Cup history.

Early life Mitchell was born Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia in 1984.

Mitchell was educated at Strathpine West State School and St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe and played his junior rugby for the Pine Rivers Pumas Rugby Union club, going on to play rugby for University of Queensland Rugby Club. Mitchell went on to captain the Queensland Academy of Sport U-19 team as well as going on to be an Australian Schoolboy and Sevens international.

Career

Mitchell's domestic future again had a period of speculation when he was approached by the NSW Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies ahead of the 2010 Super Rugby season. Mitchell eventually signed for the NSW Waratahs, replacing Sam Norton-Knight.

Mitchell dislocated his ankle and broke a bone in his leg after he collided with Scott Higginbotham of the Reds during their match on Saturday, 23 April and was initially ruled out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. However, he subsequently made a full recovery and was included in Australia's tournament squad. He did not play any games in the first half of the competition, making only five appearances all season.

In 2013, Mitchell agreed a two-year deal to play for Toulon for the 2012–13 Top 14 season. Mitchell went on to make 81 appearances for the Toulon side, securing several European & French crowns, his final match being a Top 14 Final loss to Clermont.

On 17 April 2017, Mitchell announced the end of his rugby career on Twitter in spite of previous reports of a possible return to the Super Rugby.

In February 2022, Mitchell participated in a charity match at Suncorp Stadium to raise funds for Tonga after a tsunami devastated the island nation. After taking a number of heavy tackles from the Tongan side, Mitchell jokingly remarked that he "donated a hamstring and a rib to the Tongan relief fund", and also stressed that there was "no chance" of a comeback to the sport.

International career Mitchell made his international debut for the Wallabies against South Africa in 2005, after being selected post-season with the Queensland Reds in which he was named Australia's Rookie of the Year.

Mitchell's international career stalled after Australia's 2005 Spring Tour, and he didn't feature for the Wallabies again until Wales toured in 2007. By this time Mitchell had switched to newly formed Western Force and impressed enough to gain a place in the Australia squad for the 2007 World Cup in France. He scored seven tries during that tournament. With solid performances playing against the Springboks in the 24–20 win at Suncorp Stadium, and the 27–19 win against New Zealand at ANZ Stadium, Mitchell was included in the Wallabies' 31-man squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Mitchell's last match playing for the Wallabies was in the 2016 Rugby Championship victory against the Springboks, coming off the bench after a groin injury.

Other ventures In 2021, Mitchell was part of the commentary lineup for the Nine Network's Stan Sport coverage of Australia's Test matches.

Career statistics Club

+ Statistics by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueOtherTotalDivisionAppsTriesPointsAppsTriesPointsAppsTriesPoints 2004 Super 12 11 2 10 — 11 2 10 2005 11 4 20 — 11 4 20 2006 13 3 15 — 13 3 15 Total 35 9 45 — 35 9 45 2007 Super 14 13 3 15 — 13 3 15 2008 12 2 10 — 12 2 10 2009 13 4 20 — 13 4 20 Total 38 9 45 — 38 9 45 2010 Super 14 14 9 45 — 14 9 45 2011 Super Rugby 9 6 30 — 9 6 30 2012 4 1 5 — 4 1 5 2013 12 1 5 1 0 0 13 1 5 Total 39 17 85 1 0 0 40 17 85 Toulon 2013–14 Top 14 20 4 20 9 1 5 29 5 25 2014–15 24 9 45 6 2 10 30 11 55 2015–16 10 6 30 3 1 5 13 7 35 2016–17 14 1 5 1 0 0 15 1 5 Total 68 20 100 19 4 20 87 24 120 Career total 180 55 275 20 4 20 200 59 295

International

+ Statistics by team and yearTeamYearStatisticAppsTriesPoints Australia A 2008 3 3 15 Australia 2005 10 6 30 2007 11 8 40 2008 8 3 15 2009 12 1 5 2010 14 9 45 2011 3 3 15 2012 5 0 0 2015 7 4 20 2016 1 0 0 Total 71 34 170

International tries + List of international tries scored by Drew Mitchell 2 Stadium Australia, Sydney Olympic Park 2005 Tri Nations Series 13 August 2005 13–30 3 Stade Vélodrome, Marseille 2005 Autumn Internationals 5 November 2005 16–26 4 Twickenham Stadium, London 12 November 2005 16–26 5 Lansdowne Road, Dublin 19 November 2005 30–14 6 7 Lang Park, Brisbane 2007 Wales tour of Australia 2 June 2007 31–0 8 Stade de Gerland, Lyon 2007 Rugby World Cup 8 September 2007 91–3 9 10 Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier 23 September 2007 55–12 11 12 13 Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux 29 September 2007 37–6 14 15 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 2008 Tri Nations Series 30 August 2008 8–53 16 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong 2008 Autumn Internationals 1 November 2008 14–19 17 18 Croke Park, Dublin 2009 Autumn Internationals 15 November 2009 20–20 19 Canberra Stadium, Canberra 2010 June Tests 5 June 2010 49–3 20 Lang Park, Brisbane 2010 Tri Nations Series 24 July 2010 30–13 21 Docklands Stadium, Melbourne 31 July 2010 28–49 22 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 4 September 2010 41–39 23 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong 2010 Autumn Internationals 30 October 2010 26–24 24 Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence 20 November 2010 32–14 25 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 27 November 2010 59–16 26 27 28 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 2011 Rugby World Cup 23 September 2011 67–5 29 Trafalgar Park, Nelson 1 October 2011 68–22 30 31 Villa Park, Birmingham 2015 Rugby World Cup 27 September 2015 65–3 32 33 Twickenham Stadium, London 18 October 2015 35–34 34

Awards and honours Toulon Top 14: 2013–14 European Champions Cup: 2014, 2015

Australia Rugby World Cup: 2015 (runners-up) The Rugby Championship: 2015

Individual

Australian Super Rugby Rookie of the Year: 2005