Phil Gifford at Orewa Library

As a print sports journalist, Phil's career has also gained honours. In 1993, he became the first and, to date, only person to be judged the Sports Journalist of the Year for the second time. His experience covers Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, all Rugby World Cups and every test match played by the All Blacks in New Zealand since 1977. He writes a weekly column under his own name in the country's biggest circulation weekend paper, the "Sunday Star Times", and is a contributing editor to "North and South" magazine.

In 1973, he created the satirical rugby character, "Loosehead Len", and, in addition to weekly columns for 21 years, produced seven "Loosehead" books with combined sales of over 60,000 copies.

Phil Gifford is an exciting high energy, no nonsense speaker who can add a new dimension of enthusiasm to your conference or event. He is well known to all New Zealanders and his "feet on the ground" approach to things makes him a real crowd pleaser.

Since 2007 he has hosted the rugby show "Front Row" on radio Sport every Saturday, writes a weekly column in the Sunday Star-Times, is a regular on Sky Television's "the Press Box", and airs sports comments on Radio Hauraki's breakfast show.

The author of 17 best selling sports books, including "Cadillac Dreams", the story of a music road trip across the southern states of Americawith his wifr and friends. He is currently working on cricketer Nathan Astle's biography. In all, his books have sold over 140,000 copies.

His latest book released in May 2008 titled “What a Ride, Mate” is about his friend Peter Leitch AKA “The Mad Butcher”

Phil is a very entertaining speaker and professional MC.

Phil’s books include;