Rocky Elsom

Often considered to be one of Australia’s best ever players, Rocky Elsom had a long and prosperous career as a versatile flanker, winning many major accolades and captaining the national side.

Born in Melbourne, Australia in February 1983, Rocky Elsom was educated in Brisbane where he first began playing rugby union. As a youth he eventually played for the Australian Schoolboys and was noticed for his pace, despite his significant stature. After school he briefly switched codes to rugby league, spending two seasons with Canterbury Bulldogs before beginning his union career in 2003 with Waratahs.

It was with the Sydney side that Rocky Elsom began to flourish and he was a key player in the final three years of the Super 12 with the side, playing mainly as a blindside flanker but occasionally in the backrow or as a lock. On his 50th appearance he was named captain in 2005 and two years later was named the ‘best performing player’ in the newly formed Super 14 and the ‘most valuable flanker’ in Australia.

Rocky Elsom stayed with Waratahs until 2008 – making over 60 appearances in total – before heading to Europe to join Leinster. Despite only spending a year with the Irish provincial side, he earned a wealth of awards and achievements. This included helping them win the Heineken Cup, being their ‘Rugby Player of the Year’, the ‘Magners League Player of the Year’, double figures ‘Man of the Match’ awards and being voted ‘European Player of the Year’ – to name just a few examples.