David Giffin
A master of the lineout, his technical brilliance in the air was a cornerstone of the Wallabies' 1999 World Cup triumph.
Born 1973 (age 53)·Rugby player·Birthday: November 6·Generation X
Biography
David Giffin’s rugby story is one of persistence and peerless specialization. The Queensland-born lock battled serious knee injuries early in his career, a setback that forced a move to the ACT Brumbies to revive his prospects. There, under the innovative coaching of Rod Macqueen and Eddie Jones, he refined his craft to become the world’s premier lineout technician. His ability to read throws, dominate space, and secure possession became a critical strategic weapon. This was never more evident than during the 1999 Rugby World Cup, where he started in the final victory over France, his work in the set piece providing the platform for Australia’s success. A vice-captain known for his calm leadership, Giffin returned from another major injury to compete in the 2003 World Cup final, closing his career as a player whose intelligence defined an entire area of the game.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
David was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a starting lock for Australia in their 1999 Rugby World Cup final victory over France.
- Earned 49 caps for the Wallabies and served as the team's vice-captain.
- Played 81 Super Rugby games for the ACT Brumbies, becoming a linchpin of their forward pack.
Did You Know?
He initially studied to become a doctor before committing fully to professional rugby.
He missed the entire 1998 season due to a serious knee reconstruction.
After retiring, he worked as a lineout coach for the Japanese national rugby team.
“The lineout is a contest of wills, and I intend to win it.”
