Reagan Campbell-Gillard

Reagan Campbell-Gillard (born 27 July 1993), also known by the nicknames of "Reggie" or "RCG",[2] is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL. He has played for Fiji and Australia at international level.

Reagan Campbell Gillard
Campbell-Gillard playing for the Panthers in 2014.
Personal information
Full nameReagan Campbell-Gillard
Born (1993-07-27) 27 July 1993
Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia
Height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight115 kg (18 st 2 lb)
Playing information
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015–19 Penrith Panthers 114 9 0 0 36
2020– Parramatta Eels 21 1 0 0 4
Total 135 10 0 0 40
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2014 Fiji 2 0 0 0 0
2015–16 NSW City 2 0 0 0 0
2015–18 Prime Minister's XIII 2 0 0 0 0
2017 World All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
2017 Australia 5 0 0 0 0
2018 New South Wales 1 0 0 0 0
As of 22 September 2019
Source: [1]

He has played for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League. He has also played for City Origin, Prime Minister's XIII, World All Stars and New South Wales in the 2018 State of Origin series.

Background

Campbell-Gillard was born in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia and is of Fijian descent.[3] The son of Warwick Gillard and Georgina Campbell, Campbell-Gillard commented that he never knew his father, saying "I don’t speak to him. I haven’t had a father my whole life."[4] Raised in Mount Druitt, New South Wales by his single mother, a Fijian emigrant,[5]

Campbell-Gillard played his junior rugby league for the Rooty Hill Dragons but gave up the sport, and instead played soccer and hockey during his early teens. He returned to rugby league playing for the Windsor Wolves at the suggestion of his Hills Sports High School-classmate Kieren Moss, and was subsequently recruited by the Penrith Panthers to play in their S. G. Ball Cup team.[6][7]

Campbell-Gillard is the cousin of the Sims siblings; fellow Fijian internationals Ashton, Tariq and Korbin and dual-code women's rugby international Ruan.[8]

Playing career

Early career

In 2012 and 2013, Campbell-Gillard played for the Panthers' NYC team.[9] On 24 April 2013, he re-signed with the Panthers on a three-year contract.[10] On 27 August 2013, Campbell-Gillard was named on the interchange bench in the 2013 NYC Team of the Year.[11] On 6 October 2013, Campbell-Gillard played in the Panthers Holden Cup Grand final against the New Zealand Warriors, starting at prop in the 42-30 victory.[12] On 13 October 2013, Campbell-Gillard played for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis, playing off the interchange bench in the 38-26 win at Jubilee Oval.[13][14] In 2014, he graduated to the Panthers' New South Wales Cup team. In 2014, Campbell-Gillard graduated to the Panthers New South Wales Cup team. On 3 May 2014, Campbell-Gillard made his international debut for Fiji against Samoa in the 2014 Pacific Rugby League International, playing off the interchange bench in the 32-16 loss at Penrith Stadium.[15] On 19 October 2014, Campbell-Gillard would again play for Fiji against Lebanon in the 2014 Hayne/Mannah Cup, starting at prop in the 40-28 win at Shark Park.[16]

2015

In January 2015, Campbell-Gillard was named in the Panthers 2015 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[17] In Round 1 of the 2015 NRL season, Campbell-Gillard made his NRL debut for the Penrith Panthers against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, playing off the interchange bench in the 24-18 win at Penrith Stadium.[18] After playing in 8 matches for the Panthers, on 3 May 2015, Campbell-Gillard was selected to play for City Origin against Country Origin, playing off the interchange bench in the 34-22 loss in Wagga Wagga.[19][20] On 9 June 2015, Campbell-Gillard re-signed with the Panthers on a 4-year contract.[21] In Round 23 against the New Zealand Warriors, Campbell-Gillard scored his first NRL career try in the 24-10 win at Penrith Stadium.[22] Campbell-Gillard finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in all of the Panthers 24 matches and scoring 1 try in the 2015 NRL season. On 26 September 2015, Campbell-Gillard played for the Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea, starting at prop in the 40-12 win in Port Moresby.[23]

2016

On 8 May 2016, Campbell-Gillard again played for City Origin against Country Origin, starting at prop in the 44-30 win in Tamworth.[24] In Round 25 against the Gold Coast Titans, Campbell-Gillard suffered a season ending back injury after he was hit by a late shoulder charge in the back by Ryan James during the Panthers 15-14 win at Robina Stadium.[25] Campbell-Gillard had 2 vertebrae fractured and couldn’t change out of his playing kit for 2 days due to the seriousness of the injury.[26] Campbell-Gillard finished the 2016 NRL season playing in 20 matches and scoring 2 tries for the Panthers.

2017

On 10 February 2017, Campbell-Gillard returned from a broken back to represent his Fijian heritage while playing for the World All Stars against the Indigenous All Stars, starting at prop in the 34-8 loss at Hunter Stadium.[27][28] After showing great form at the front when the Panthers climbed up the ladder in make it into the finals series after winning 11 from 13 matches, at the 2017 Dally M Awards night, Campbell-Gillard received with the inaugural Dally M Interchange Player of the Year award.[29] Campbell-Gillard finished his best season up to date with him playing in all of the Panthers 26 matches and scoring 3 tries in the 2017 NRL season. On 4 October 2017, Campbell-Gillard was awarded with the Merv Cartwright Medal as the Panthers Player of the Year.[30] After he was originally going to play represent Fiji in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, on 5 October 2017, Campbell-Gillard received a well deserved call up into the Australia Kangaroos 24-man squad after the withdrawal of Andrew Fifita who switched over to play for Tonga.[31][32][33] On 27 October 2017, Campbell-Gillard made his international debut for Australia against England, playing off the interchange bench in the 18-4 win at AAMI Park.[34][35] Campbell-Gillard played in 5 matches in the tournament including playing off the interchange bench in the Kangaroos 6-0 gritty World Cup Final win over England at Suncorp Stadium.[36][37]

2018

Campbell-Gillard started the 2018 season in red hot form up front as the Panthers are holding into a spot in the top 4. Campbell-Gillard’s efforts would reward him with selection in the New South Wales squad.[38][39] On 6 June 2018, Campbell-Gillard made his representative debut for New South Wales in Game 1 of the 2018 State of Origin series against Queensland, starting at prop as the Blues won 22-12 at the MCG.[40][41]

2019

On 14 September 2019, Campbell-Gillard was granted a release by Penrith to take up a 5-year deal with the Parramatta Eels that would end in 2024. Campbell-Gillard later spoke of his move to Parramatta saying “I’ve known this club for nearly 10 years. You want to be a one-club man, but we’re in a business that doesn’t allow you for it, I’m nervous, excited, but sad at the same time, to move on, It was one of those years that I really want to forget, I really hated rugby league this year. It’s just been a frustrating year.[42]

2020

Campbell-Gillard made his debut for Parramatta in round 1 of the 2020 NRL season against arch rivals Canterbury-Bankstown. Parramatta would go on to win the match 8-2.[43]

In round 11 against Wests Tigers, Campbell-Gillard scored his first try for Parramatta, a 50-metre solo effort in which he beat three Wests players on the way to the try line. Parramatta would go on to win the match 26-16 at Bankwest Stadium.[44]

He made a total of 21 appearances for Parramatta in the 2020 NRL season as the club finished third but were eliminated from the finals in straight sets.[45]

References
  1. "Reagan Campbell-Gillard". Rugby League Project.
  2. "Reagan Campbell-Gillard - Panthers". Penrithpanthers.com.au. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  3. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/the-pair-of-old-school-greats-driving-new-kangaroo-reagan-campbellgillard-20171012-gyzkgf.html
  4. Nicolussi, Christian (13 March 2015). "Rookie Panthers enforcer Reagan Campbell-Gillard proud of his tough upbringing". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  5. Pengilly, Adam (1 May 2015). "Penrith's next Mount Druitt prodigy Reagan Campbell-Gillard keeping peace on and off field". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  6. Chammas, Michael (11 March 2015). "Why Penrith Panthers rookie Reagan Campbell-Gillard didn't play league for seven years". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  7. Jones, Matt (20 May 2017). "Playing in the NRL was not my plan: Campbell-Gillard". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  8. http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/panthers/rookie-panthers-enforcer-reagan-campbellgillard-proud-of-his-tough-upbringing/news-story/9636120d3e70341edda6c199d4c07ae3
  9. "Regan Campbell-Gillard". Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  10. "Panthers re-sign talented youngsters - Panthers". Penrithpanthers.com.au. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  11. "2013 Holden Cup Team of the Year". NRL.com. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  12. http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/penrith-panthers-seal-thrilling-42-30-holden-cup-victory-over-new-zealand-warriors/news-story/673c829a5f61b0c00e1fb3c3449b5d55
  13. "Junior Kangaroos team named". NRL.com. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  14. https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/sport/224544/junior-kangaroos-beat-kiwi-counterparts
  15. https://www.nrl.com/news/2014/05/03/samoa-beat-fiji-to-advance-to-four-nations/
  16. https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2014/10/20/fiji-outmuscle-lebanon-in-hayne-mannah-cup/
  17. https://www.nrl.com/news/2015/01/29/2015-auckland-nines-squad-lists/
  18. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/why-penrith-panthers-rookie-reagan-campbellgillard-didnt-play-league-for-seven-years-20150311-140vfr.html
  19. "Representative Round team lists". NRL.com. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  20. https://www.nrl.com/news/2015/05/03/country-overcome-city-in-seesawing-affair/
  21. "Reagan Campbell-Gillard signs new deal - Panthers". Penrithpanthers.com.au. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  22. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nz-warriors-season-ends-with-barely-a-whimper-in-2410-loss-to-panthers-20150815-giztur.html
  23. "Merrin to lead Prime Minister's XIII". NRL.com. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  24. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/country-origin-v-city-origin-fourtry-gray-leads-city-to-big-win-20160508-gopd6r.html
  25. https://www.nrl.com/news/2016/08/27/campbell-gillard-in-hospital-with-broken-back/
  26. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/panthers/reagan-campbellgillard-still-in-hospital-following-shot-from-ryan-james/news-story/c65551c60e6ae500e4c9a125f0b7d9b2
  27. Ryan, Nathan (7 February 2017). "Penrith Panthers forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard returns from broken back in All Stars game". Fox Sports. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  28. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/indigenous-all-stars-thump-world-all-stars-348-in-newcastle/news-story/a016f102b1c7ddc5bbdeeedb83a149c5
  29. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dally-m-medal-cameron-smith-takes-games-top-honour-as-melbourne-storm-scoop-awards-20170927-gyq517.html
  30. http://westernweekender.com.au/2017/10/campbell-gillard-wins-merv-cartwright-medal/
  31. https://www.nrl.com/news/2017/10/05/campbell-gillard-called-into-kangaroos-squad/
  32. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/reagan-campbellgillard-bati-might-try-to-kill-me-after-kangaroos-call-20171012-gyzr9v.html
  33. Lutton, Phil (13 October 2017). "The pair of old school greats driving new Kangaroo Reagan Campbell-Gillard". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  34. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/oct/27/australia-v-england-rugby-league-world-cup-opener-live
  35. http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/kangaroos-debutant-reagan-campbellgillard-gets-the-better-of-his-nerves-in-maiden-test/news-story/98dfd3ea13e3ecebdcfedb74735adf95
  36. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/australia-v-england-player-ratings-who-starred-who-struggled-in-world-cup-final/news-story/56bbc1a62696d3b7e903321d0efb037f
  37. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/rugby-league-world-cup-2017-australia-scrape-out-60-victory-in-final-against-wayne-bennettinspired-england-20171202-gzxh7d.html
  38. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/campbell-gillard-hoping-for-first-time-to-remember-20180605-p4zjmo.html
  39. https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/state-of-origin/state-of-origin-2018-queenslands-jai-arrow-fires-back-at-blues-knucklehead-reagan-campbellgillard/news-story/d2cf66947add1b89df2901c9502be6ef
  40. https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/06/06/nsw-blues-state-of-origin-player-ratings-rookies-shine-on-big-stage/
  41. https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/live-state-of-origin-new-south-wales-vs-queensland-game-1/news-story/4240b3f07cc8c368fb2e6b2cde8492a7
  42. "'I hated league this year': Home-grown star opens up on painful Penrith exit". News.com.au.
  43. "Live NRL: After 65 minutes we FINALLY have a try — Eels rookie breaks deadlock". Fox Sports. 12 March 2020.
  44. "Parramatta Eels beat Wests Tigers". www.abc.net.au.
  45. "Parramatta Eels farewell 11 players in mass exodus following disappointing finals exit". www.sportingnews.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.