David Kidwell
A hard-nosed Kiwi rugby league forward who transitioned from World Cup winner to a respected coach across both codes.
Born 1977 (age 49)·NZ RL coach and former NZ international rugby league footballer·Birthday: April 23·Generation X
Biography
David Kidwell's story is one of quiet resilience and deep understanding of the game's brutal mechanics. As a player, he was the kind of forward coaches love: uncompromising, versatile, and intelligent. He carved out a solid career in the NRL with clubs like the Melbourne Storm and South Sydney, but his proudest moments came in the black jersey of New Zealand. He was a crucial part of the Kiwis' historic 2005 Tri-Nations win and their 2008 World Cup victory, providing defensive grit and leadership. After hanging up his boots, Kidwell didn't stray far from the action. He moved into coaching, taking the helm of the national team during a challenging period. His more enduring impact, however, may be in rugby union, where he has served as a defense coach for Super Rugby's Highlanders, applying league's defensive principles to the 15-man game and earning respect in a new arena.
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 1977, 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 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2008 Rugby League World Cup as a player with the New Zealand national team.
- Was a member of the New Zealand squad that won the 2005 Rugby League Tri-Nations.
- Served as the head coach of the New Zealand Kiwis from 2016 to 2017.
- Became a defense coach in Super Rugby, working with the Highlanders, after a career in rugby league.
Did You Know?
He is of Māori descent, with his iwi (tribe) being Ngāpuhi.
He played for five different clubs in the Australian NRL during his career.
He started his first-grade rugby league career as a centre before moving to the second-row.
He was appointed as the Kiwis head coach immediately following his role as an assistant under Stephen Kearney.
“True understanding of the game comes from seeing it from the dirt and the whiteboard.”
