Kimlin added to Wallabies tour squad
October 09, 2008 - 10:23am
Story by: ARU
Brumbies and Australia A lock Peter Kimlin has become the 13th new player to be introduced to the Qantas Wallabies in 2008 after being called up today to replace the injured James Horwill for the Spring Tour.
The 23-year-old Canberra red head has been introduced after Horwill was ruled out last week due to the need for surgery to repair damage to the lisfranc ligament of his left foot.
Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says that Kimlin had already been identified as a player of potential who they were looking to develop.
“The opportunity for Peter has come a little bit earlier than we had perhaps anticipated, but he is certainly a player that we were looking to promote,” Deans says.
“He was already in the development tube as it were, having been a part of the Australia A programme earlier in the year where he did very well. His performance there told us that he was a player who had the capability to step up to the next level.”
Kimlin performed solidly for the Brumbies this year in his first full Investec Super 14 season, after having made his debut last season while contracted to the Brumbies Academy.
Having appeared three times in 2007, Kimlin featured in every game played by the Brumbies this year, coming off the bench in 12 of those matches as a back up to the established Brumbies second rowers, Mark Chisholm and Al Campbell.
His only start came against the Cheetahs.
Kimlin subsequently featured throughout this year’s Australia A’s Pacific Nations Cup programme, where he initially partnered his Brumbies and now Wallaby team-mate Chisholm, in the second row.
His inclusion lifts the Brumbies’ representation in the 34-man touring squad to six, with Kimlin joining Chisholm, Adam Ashley-Cooper, George Smith, Ben Alexander and tour skipper Stirling Mortlock.
Kimlin was one of a number of players from outside of the squad who were invited to train with the Wallabies this week at the second of the team’s four pre-Spring tour training camps.
The touring party departs for Hong Kong on Monday October 27, and will open the tour with the final Bledisloe Cup Test of the year against New Zealand in the city on Saturday 1 November.
About Peter Kimlin
Position: Lock
Height: 198cm
Weight: 114kg
Born: 11 July, 1985
Super 14 Team: Brumbies 2007-08 (16 caps)
Representative Honours: Australia A Schools 2003, Australia Under-19 2004, Australia A 2008
PETER KIMLIN earned a late call up to the Qantas Wallabies touring party as replacement for the injured James Horwill. While the timing of his international ‘arrival’ was dictated by the misfortune of another, the fact that the Canberra red head has ‘made it’ surprised few who have monitored his career progress closely. An Australian representative at age-group level, Kimlin is a product of the Canberra development system, having schooled locally. He was signed by the Brumbies Academy last year, earning his first caps during the pre-season trials, before then being called on during the season proper, where he made his debut against the Stormers of South Africa. After a strong showing for the Canberra Vikings in the Australian Rugby Championship, Kimlin cemented a regular place in the Brumbies match-day squad this year, capping off a profitable season when he earned selection for Australia A. Although he has experience in the back row, Kimlin didn’t look out of place matching up against international quality opposition during the Pacific Nations Cup. His form for Australia A made Kimlin the logical next choice for the Spring Tour once Horwill was ruled out.
Career Highlights
2003 Makes the Australia A Schools side while playing for Canberra Grammar School, ACT.
2004 Takes the next step, being selected in the Australia Under-19 team that attends the IRB Under-19 World Cup.
2007 Is included in the Brumbies Academy, being called on to make his Investec Super 14 debut against the Stormers. Kimlin finished his maiden Brumbies season with three caps. He then featured in every match for the Canberra Vikings in the Australian Rugby Championship.
2008 Continues his progression as a Super rugby player, featuring in every match played by the Brumbies. Is rewarded for that performance with selection for Australia A, where he is one of the team’s stand out performers throughout the Pacific Nations Cup.
