Wendell Sailor

Wendell Jermaine Sailor (born 16 July 1974) is an Australian former professional rugby footballer who represented his country in both rugby league and rugby union – a dual code international.

In rugby league Sailor was a member of the successful Brisbane Broncos team of the 1990s, with whom he won Premierships in 1993, 1997, 1998 and 2000.

A, his large frame and powerful running made him a formidable opponent and prolific try-scorer.

During the 1994 NSWRL season, Sailor played on the wing for the defending premiers Brisbane when they hosted British champions Wigan for the 1994 World Club Challenge.

At the end of the 1994 season he was selected for the 1994 Kangaroo Tour of Europe.

He played in the opening fixture against a Cumbrian side where he scored two tries.

He then started off the bench in a warm up match against Leeds, before earning a starting wing spot in the next match against Wigan and then playing off the bench again against Castleford.

Sailor was again promoted to a starting wing position for the match against Halifax, scoring two tries.

He then earned his first Test cap against Great Britain, as a starting wing in their loss at Wembley Stadium in late October.

At the outbreak of the Super League war in 1995, Sailor along with the rest of his Broncos teammates and players of several other clubs, was aligned with Super League and so ineligible for selection in the 1995 State of Origin series or the end of season 1995 Rugby League World Cup.

The following year, when all players were again allowed to be selected for representative football, Sailor's debut for the Queensland Maroons came in Game I of the 1996 State of Origin series.

In Game II he played at fullback.

Following the 1997 defection Super League and all its clubs, Wendell had a stellar year in the rebel competition.

He was the top try-scorer for the Broncos and helped them win Super League's expanded 1997 World Club Championship tournament and then the premiership, defeating the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26–8 in the grand final.

In the 1997 post season, Sailor was selected to play for Australia on the wing in all three matches of the Super League Test series against Great Britain.

After the Super League war ended, the Broncos won the inaugural competition of the National Rugby League, defeating the Canterbury Bulldogs 38–12 in the 1998 NRL grand final, in which Sailor scored a try.

He then spent the Australian summer in England, playing rugby union for Leeds Tykes and scoring 15 tries in 13 games.

Sailor also appeared in two of the Leeds Rhinos trial games, including the 'Festive Challenge' on Boxing Day in 1998.

Playing Halifax, he had had a torrid time until the closing stages of the game when he inspired Leeds to grab a draw.

England's Wigan club had tried to sign Sailor for a large amount, but he decided to stay with the Broncos.

In 1999 Sailor put in a man-of-the-match performance in the deciding match of the 1999 State of Origin series which saw Queensland retain the shield.

He represented Queensland in State of Origin and played for Australia (the Kangaroos) 16 times, including winning the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, where he was the top try-scorer and player of the tournament.

He also played 3 times for the Super League Australia side.

In 2001, he moved to the Queensland Reds in rugby union, and later to the New South Wales Waratahs after the 2005 Super 12 season.

He made his debut for Australia (the Wallabies) in 2003 and won 37 caps, including at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, where Australia lost in the final.

In 2006 he failed a drugs test and received a two-year suspension from all forms of rugby.

His contract with the ARU was terminated, ending his rugby union career.

He returned to rugby league in May 2008 with NRL club the St George Illawarra Dragons after his ban expired, playing for two seasons (the second of which was under his old Brisbane coach, Wayne Bennett), before retiring.

Since retiring, Sailor has worked in television presenting and has appeared in reality TV shows.

Sailor was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

He is South Sea Islander specifically descendent from the Solomon Islands and West Indies descent.

Sailor's son Tristan also plays in the NRL.

Sailor grew up with his adoptive parents in Sarina, Queensland.

He never knew his father and knew nothing of him apart from his West Indian heritage.

His adoptive father is Torres Strait Islander.

In his inaugural year for the Brisbane Broncos, Sailor played in a handful of games, scoring three tries in his first season, though Sailor had limited involvement that year, the club won the premiership, defeating the St. George Dragons 14–6.

After his impressive debut season, he won the Rookie of the Year award at the Broncos club.

The following season Sailor took part in more games, scoring 14 tries.

Such a rapid improvement over the course of two seasons saw Sailor become a regular in the Broncos ranks.

He quickly became a home crowd favourite in Brisbane because of his speed and power and would soon become a household name in the rugby league world.