imported>Jevansen: added :Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen

2024-12-29T22:58:26Z

added Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen

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{{Short description|Italy international rugby union player}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Luke McLean
| image = Luke McLean.jpg
| birth_name = Luke McLean
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|6|29|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Townsville]], Australia
| height = 1.90 m
| weight = {{convert|95|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}}
| ru_position = [[Fullback (rugby union)|Fullback]], [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]], [[Fly-half (rugby union)|Fly-half]]
| ru_currentteam = [[London Irish]]
| ru_amateuryears =
| ru_amateurclubs =
| ru_clubyears = 2007 2007–2009 2009–2014 2014–2015 2015−2017 2017−2019
| ru_proclubs = {{nowrap|[[Perth Spirit]] [[Rugby Calvisano|Calvisano]] [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton Treviso]] [[Sale Sharks]] [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton Treviso]]}} [[London Irish]]
| ru_clubcaps = 4 39 81 11 34 29
| ru_clubpoints = (16) (80) (71) (10) (10) (15)
| ru_clubupdate = 13 December 2018
| ru_nationalyears = 2008–2019
| ru_nationalteam = {{nrut|Italy}}
| ru_nationalcaps = 89
| ru_nationalpoints = (74)
| ru_ntupdate = 18 March 2017
}}
'''Luke McLean''' (born 29 June 1987) is a former professional [[rugby union]] footballer who played as a [[Rugby union positions#15. Fullback|fullback]]. Born in Australia to an Italian mother, he won 89 caps for the [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy national team]].

==Personal life==
McLean was born in [[Townsville]], [[Queensland]].<ref name="Aussie five-eighth overlooked for Italy">{{Cite news|date=6 November 2008|accessdate=7 March 2009|title=Aussie five-eighth overlooked for Italy|publisher=We Love Rugby|first=Darren|last=Walton|url=http://www.weloverugby.com/sports.news.view.php?id=37481613|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220161846/http://www.weloverugby.com/sports.news.view.php?id=37481613|archivedate=20 February 2012}}</ref>

His mother's parents are both [[Italians|Italian]]; however, his grandfather had to give up his Italian [[citizenship]] to buy land in Australia.<ref name="Aussie bids to help Italy beat Ireland">{{Cite news|date=14 February 2009|accessdate=7 March 2009|title=Aussie bids to help Italy beat Ireland|publisher=Racing and Sports|url=http://www.racingandsports.com.au/sports/rsnewsart.asp?NID=144895 |url-status= live |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120309225625/http://www.racingandsports.com.au/sports/rsnewsart.asp?NID=144895 |archivedate=9 March 2012}}</ref>

McLean attended [[St Laurence's College|St. Laurence's College]], in [[South Brisbane]], during his schooling years. He was College captain in 2004.

==Career==

===Club career===
McLean played for [[Perth Spirit]] in the [[Australian Rugby Championship]] before joining Italian team [[Rugby Calvisano|Calvisano]] in 2007, turning down a training contract with [[Western Force]].<ref name="Cool hand Luke out to do Italian job">{{Cite news|date=8 November 2008 |accessdate=8 February 2009 |title=Cool hand Luke out to do Italian job |publisher=Fox Sports |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24606525-23217,00.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913181150/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0%2C8659%2C24606525-23217%2C00.html |archivedate=13 September 2009 }}</ref> McLean joined [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton Treviso]] in 2009 where he played over 80 games. In mid 2014 he signed with the [[Sale Sharks]] on a two-year deal. McLean would then return to [[Benetton Rugby|Benetton Treviso]] in Italy from the 2015–16 season.

On 2 June 2017 it was announced he had signed for [[London Irish]] in the [[Premiership Rugby|English Premiership]].<ref>{{cite web|title=NEW SIGNING: Italian international joins London Irish|url=http://www.london-irish.com/news/new-signing-italian-international-joins-london-irish/bp1353/|website=London Irish|publisher=London Irish Scottish Richmond Ltd.|accessdate=2 June 2017}}</ref> He retired at the conclusion of the 2018–19 season.

===International career===
McLean was eligible for both [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]], being his country of birth, and [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]], due to his [[Italians|Italian]] grandmother. He represented the [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia under-19]] side, helping the side to win the World under-19 championships.<ref name="Cool hand Luke out to do Italian job"/> He made his international debut for Italy against [[2007 Rugby World Cup]] winners [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] on 21 June 2008 in [[Cape Town]]. Italy were defeated 26–0.<ref name="South Africa 26-0 Italy">{{Cite news|date=21 June 2008|accessdate=8 February 2009|title=South Africa 26–0 Italy|publisher=BBC Sport|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7464828.stm}}</ref>

McLean scored his first international points on his [[2009 Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]] debut in the 36–11 defeat to [[England national rugby union team|England]] at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]] on 7 February 2009.<ref name="England 36-11 Italy"/> He scored two [[Penalty (rugby union)|penalties]] in the first-half.<ref name="England 36-11 Italy">{{Cite news|date= 7 February 2009|accessdate=8 February 2009|title=England 36–11 Italy|publisher=BBC Sport|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7873600.stm}}</ref> He then played against [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] on 15 February, scoring all of Italy's nine points, converting three penalties in the 38–9 defeat at [[Stadio Flaminio]], Rome.<ref name="Ireland maintain their unbeaten start to Six Nations">{{Cite news|date=15 February 2009|accessdate=16 February 2009|title=Ireland maintain their unbeaten start to Six Nations|publisher=The Times|location=London|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article5740251.ece}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> McLean scored a further three points kicking a penalty in the 26–6 defeat to [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] at [[Murrayfield Stadium|Murrayfield]] on 28 February.<ref name="Spoon looms for Azzurri">{{Cite news|date=28 February 2009|accessdate=4 March 2009|title=Spoon looms for Azzurri|publisher=Sky Sports|first=Joe|last=Drabble|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/match_report/0,20244,11069_2993903,00.html}}</ref> He featured in Italy's 20–15 loss to [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] on 15 March 2008 at [[Stadio Flaminio]], failing to score any of Italy's points.<ref name="Wales endure red-face day">{{Cite news|date=15 March 2009|accessdate=15 March 2009|title=Wales endure red-face day|publisher=The Times|location=London|first=Nick|last=Cain|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article5907512.ece}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="Italy 15-20 Wales">{{Cite news|date=14 March 2009|accessdate=15 March 2009|title=Italy 15–20 Wales|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Sean|last=Davies|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7941510.stm}}</ref> McLean played in Italy's last Six Nations 2009 match against [[France national rugby union team|France]] on 21 March, losing 50–8.<ref name="Italy 8-50 France">{{Cite news|date=21 March 2009|accessdate=28 March 2009|title=Italy 8–50 France|publisher=BBC Sport|first=James|last=Standley|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7946038.stm}}</ref>

McLean played a part in Italy's two match series on tour against [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] and [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] in 2009, scoring the majority of Italy's points.<ref name=2009-tour>{{cite web|date=28 June 2009|first=Daniel|last=Gilhooly|title=All Blacks Disappoint in Stuttering Win|website=voxy.co.nz|url=http://www.voxy.co.nz/sport/all-blacks-disappoint-stuttering-win/5/17123|accessdate=9 November 2013}}</ref> He scored a try against England in the 2013 Six Nations Championship.

In 2017, McLean played in all of Italy's 6 Nations matches and took on the role as one of the team's primary play-makers, playing at inside centre.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527105511/http://www.rugbycalvisano.it/articoli.php?IdArt=436 |title=Luke McLean player profile at rugbycalvisano.it}} {{in lang|it}}

{{Italy Squad 2011 World Cup}}
{{Italy Squad 2015 Rugby World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McLean, Luke}}
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Townsville]]
[[Category:Australian rugby union players]]
[[Category:Italian rugby union players]]
[[Category:Australian people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Italy international rugby union players]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate rugby union players in England]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate rugby union players in England]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Australia]]
[[Category:Benetton Rugby players]]
[[Category:Sale Sharks players]]
[[Category:London Irish players]]
[[Category:Rugby union fullbacks]]
[[Category:Rugby union wings]]
[[Category:Italian people of Australian descent]]
[[Category:Australian emigrants to Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate rugby league players in England]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Queensland]]
[[Category:2011 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:2015 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:People educated at St Laurence's College]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate rugby union players]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]

Luke McLean - Revision history

imported>Jevansen: added :Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen