Former Wallabies captain David Pocock running as independent candidate for ACT Senate seat

Former Wallabies captain David Pocock is vying to become the first independent senator for the national capital.

Pocock was born in Zimbabwe before moving to Brisbane when he was 14 years old.

An Australian citizen, he is also eligible for both Zimbabwean and South African citizenship but will be renouncing both ahead of his foray into federal politics.

Since retiring from his rugby career, which included a stint as vice-captain of the Brumbies, Pocock has been a prominent environmental activist and philanthropist. 

He has co-founded numerous charities and, in 2014, he was arrested for chaining himself to a digger at a coal mine protest.

Pocock, who has lived in Canberra since 2012, said his motivation to make the switch from rugby union to politics came out of frustration with the current crop of politicians.

«Like everyone, I've been watching politics over the last three years and getting increasingly frustrated at the way politicians aren't addressing the big issues we're facing and aren't actually representing communities,» he said.

«We've currently got a Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister who keep telling us that people don't want government in their lives.

»But I think what people really want is the government to actually get on with governing."

The ACT and the Northern Territory did not have senators until Australia's 1975 election. Since then, the ACT has only ever elected Labor and Liberal senators.

In recent decades, the Greens and several high-profile independents have targeted the Liberal-held Senate seat. However, in most elections, the Liberal Party has managed to be voted in without relying on preferences.

Pocock estimated his pitch for votes would come down to his views on the need for climate action.

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