Julian Gardner (rugby union)

Julian Michael Gardner (born Brisbane, 12 May 1964) is an Australian-Italian former rugby union player and a current coach. He played as a flanker.

Gardner first played at Wests Rugby. He had then is debut for Australia, having 4 caps, from 1987 to 1988.

He moved to Italy to play for Rugby Rovigo, in 1991/92. He also adopted Italian citizenship in virtue of an Italian grandmother. He was Rugby Rovigo player until 1993/94, moving then to Rugby Roma Olimpic, where he played in 1994/95. Gardner played for Benetton Rugby Treviso, from 1995/96 to 1997/98, where he won the Italian Championship title in 1996/97.

Shortly before adopting Italian citizenship he was called for Italy, where he had 20 caps, from 1992 to 1998, scoring 4 tries, 20 points on aggregate. He was called for the 1995 Rugby World Cup, playing in three games but without scoring. He was member of the team that beaten France by 40-32 at the final of the 1995-1997 FIRA Trophy, scoring the second try at the minute 34.

After finishing his player career, he returned to Australia, where he was the coach of Australia Sevens national team, from 2000 to 2002, and Queensland Reds Academy.