Ben McCalman
Loose Forward
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Profile
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Height:
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192cm
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Weight:
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106kg
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Date Of Birth:
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18/03/1988
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Place of Birth:
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Dubbo, NSW
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Rugby Career
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Senior Club:
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Kalamunda (WA) / Sydney University (NSW)
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Stats
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Super Rugby Caps:
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49 (Force)
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Super Rugby Points:
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15 (3t)
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Super Rugby Debut:
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2010 v Brumbies, Perth
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Test Rugby Caps:
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21
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Test Rugby Points:
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10 (2t)
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Test Rugby Debut:
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2010 v South Africa, Brisbane
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Profile
Ben McCalman is a big, tough and powerful utility with a hard edge who has become a key member of the Emirates Western Force. With the ability to play lock or across the back row, McCalman is one of the Western Australian pack’s most valuable assets, with his absences noticeable last season after succumbing to a shoulder injury and broken arm. Prior to his injury-depleted 2012, McCalman had been a part of every Emirates Western Force match day 22 since making his Super Rugby debut and had played 21 of a possible 24 Tests for the Wallabies. The 24-year-old has scaled the ladder of Australian representative ranks – including two years and seven caps for the Australian Schoolboys – to establish himself as a mainstay within the Wallabies, with his value to the Wallabies conspicuous by the side’s 66% success rate when he’s a part of the squad. Starved of rugby in 2012, a fit and rehabilitated McCalman will be raring for a big year in 2013.
Timeline
2005
Member of the NSW Schools side that wins the National Schoolboys Championship, defeating Queensland Red 20-17 in the final; selected for the Australian Schoolboys side that tours the UK and Ireland, defeating England Under 19 (24-12) and Ireland Under 19 (17-11).
2006
Member of the NSW 1 Schoolboys that defeat Queensland 1 34-20 in the National Schoolboys Championships; represents the Australian Schoolboys for a second successive year; selected for Australian Schoolboys tour of Fiji and New Zealand, defeating Fiji Under 18 (10-3) but falling to New Zealand Schools (18-8)
2007
Starts at blindside flanker in all five matches for the Australian side that finishes third in the IRB Under 19 World Championship in Ireland, losing to South Africa 32-18 in the semi-final; member of Sydney University’s premiership-winning Colts side that defeats Eastwood 41-13 in the grand final.
2008
Starting back-rower for the Australia Under 20 side that finishes fifth at the IRB Junior World Championship in Wales; scores two tries in Australia’s 81-12 win over Canada at the IRB Junior World Championship; starts at lock in Sydney University’s 45-20 Shute Shield grand final win over Randwick.
2009
Member of the Waratahs Academy; represents the Australian side that finishes eighth in the 2008/09 IRB World Sevens Series; forced to sit out much of the season with an ankle injury; starts at lock in Sydney University’s 24-19 win over Randwick in the Shute Shield grand final; selected for the Wallabies’ Spring Tour train-on squad; signs with Emirates Western Force.
2010
Makes his Super Rugby debut off the bench against the Brumbies in Week One; receives his first run-on start against the Hurricanes in Week Two; makes his Test debut in the Wallabies’ 30-13 win over South Africa in Brisbane; earns his first Test run-on start in the Wallabies’ emphatic 41-39 last-minute win over the Springboks in Bloemfontein; scores a try in Sydney University’s 46-6 Shute Shield grand final win over Randwick; selected for his first Spring Tour, starting in all four Tests against Wales, England, Italy and France.
2011
Plays all 16 matches for the Emirates Western Force; scores his maiden Super Rugby try against the Hurricanes in Week 15; starts against Samoa and in three Tests during the Tri Nations Series; plays seven matches for the Wallabies during the Rugby World Cup, scoring his maiden Test try in the 68-22 win over Russia; starts at No.8 and scores the match-winning try to defeat Wales 21-18 in the third/fourth play-off; selected Spring Tour, starting in the 24-18 win over Wales but a late withdrawal for the match against the Barbarians due to an eye irritation.
2012
Plays eight matches for the Emirates Western Force in a season disrupted by a fractured bone in his shoulder; not considered for Wallaby selection due to injury; returns for Sydney University but breaks his arm against Southern Districts ending his season.