26 Facts About Phil Blake

Phil Blake was born on 24 November 1963 and is a British-born Australian former rugby league footballer and a professional rugby union coach.

Originally a halfback, Blake developed into a utility player and played first grade matches in all the backline positions, as well as at hooker and lock.

Phil Blake has held coaching positions with the Wallabies, Western Force, Manly RUFC and Leicester Tigers.

Phil Blake was born in London, England, but moved to Sydney with his family at an early age.

Phil Blake is the younger brother of former Manly, Canberra and South Sydney player Michael Blake.

Phil Blake played 14 games in his rookie year, playing five-eighth, centre and halfback.

Phil Blake broke the Sea Eagles club record for the most tries scored in a season with 27 the top try scorer in the league.

Phil Blake's 27 tries were scored from just 23 games played and was only surpassed in 2021 as the Manly club record for most tries in a premiership season.

Phil Blake broke his arm during the opening round of the 1985 season against Penrith.

Phil Blake returned to the field in Round 9 against Canberra, but was again used in various backline positions and only scored 3 tries in 11 games.

In 1987, Phil Blake joined Rabbitohs and went on to play four seasons for the club.

Phil Blake moved again at the end of the 1992 season, joining the St George Dragons.

Phil Blake came off the reserves bench for the Dragons in the 1993 Grand Final who lost their second Grand Final in two seasons to the Brisbane Broncos.

Phil Blake played three seasons for the club, his longest spell at one club since the Rabbitohs.

Phil Blake, who played fullback in the Warrior's first game against the Broncos at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium before 29,220 fans, scored the new club's first ever try in the game's 21st minute after a dash down the left wing by Whetu Taewa.

In 1988, Phil Blake was selected at fullback for an Australian select side called the President's XIII to play the touring Great Britain Lions.

Phil Blake trained with the Manly team at the start of the 1998 season before announcing his retirement.

Phil Blake finished his career having played 261 games, scoring 138 tries as well as kicking eight goals and fifteen field goals.

Phil Blake was appointed the sprint coach at the South Sydney Rabbitohs for their return season in 2002.

When Craig Coleman was fired as head coach at the beginning of the 2003 season, Phil Blake was appointed the temporary head coach until he was replaced by Paul Langmack.

In 2006, Phil Blake began his rugby union coaching career as assistant coach of the Southern Districts first grade side.

Phil Blake joined Manly as head coach a year later.

Phil Blake suffered from a series of potentially life-threatening blood clots in 2008 and spent some time in hospital.

Phil Blake joined the Western Force as defence and skills coach for the 2011 season.

When Richard Graham was stood down as head coach of the Force during the 2012 season, Phil Blake became the interim head coach before Michael Foley was appointed for the 2013 season.

Phil Blake incurred a six-month ban from rugby for breaching RFU betting rules after placing eight separate bets on two Tigers games while he was the defence coach at the club.