David Bouveng
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David Bouveng (born 6 February 1973) attended Padua College, Brisbane, Australia and played in the center for the school at the 1991 Confraternity Shield competition in Townsville. Padua college had produced other Rugby League players, including Paul Vautin. After Bouveng was scouted at this competition, he went to play for the Gold Coast-based Chargers. In 1993, his rookie year, he was one of several North Queensland Cowboys recruits from the Gold Coast. He would then established himself in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership with some lively performances on the wing in 1994.
Gold Coast Seagulls
Bouveng was able to play well for the struggling Seagulls. His time in the New South Wales Rugby League during the 1993 and 1994 seasons gave little happiness with a wooden spoon and second last place.
However, his performances on the field in 1994 were outstanding. The Gold Coast Seagulls had five wins in 1994 and David scored in all but one of those winning matches. His status snowballed every round, gaining strength until becoming a clear standout. His strong consistency handed him the opportunity to sign a larger contract moving north to new club North Queensland Cowboys for the following season.
North Queensland Cowboys
His career continued with the Cowboys, which he joined for the 1995 and 1996 seasons.[1] Bouveng made the most of his limited chances on the North Queensland flank to produce again a succession of tries. A switch to the centres gave him greater opportunity and by the halfway mark of the Australian Rugby League competition he was among the top try-scorers in the league.
Cowboys statistics[1]
| Year | G | T | Gls | FGls | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 1996 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Totals | 21 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
Legend: G = Games, T = Tries, Gls = Goals, FGls = Field Goals, Pts = Points.
Halifax Blue Sox (English Super League)
David jumped ship at the Cowboys in 1997 and was bound for England. He and many other Australian rugby league players followed in his footsteps as they were lured by the bigger "dollars" available in the European Super League.
David represented Halifax Blue Sox for three seasons from 1997 through to 1999. He played out his First Grade career in England before returning to Australia to finish out his overall career.
Ipswich Jets (Queensland Cup)
In 2000 Bouveng strapped on the boots for the last time in his professional career. Back where his roots in rugby league started, David played rugby league in Queensland again but this time in the Queensland Cup. His time at the Ipswich Jets may have been brief but it added another club and another milestone to a long and eventful career.