NUDGEE’s WALLABY LEGENDS
Story by Fiona McGree [Communications Manager, Nudgee College]

Story Added : April 2006

14 of the 21 Wallabies who started their rugby careers in the folds of Brisbane’s St Joseph’s Nudgee College returned to their roots on Friday 10 March. It was a day to remember for Nudgee boys, young and old. The first day of its kind - a culmination of 115 years of Nudgee Rugby history, blended with a generous dash of Australian history - the Nudgee Rugby Walk of Fame brought together in one place, at one time, as many of Nudgee’s Old Boy Wallabies as possible. 14 of the 15 living internationals were in attendance. It was the first time they had been assembled together in the one place at the one time, under the Nudgee banner.

Known for its skill, fierce competitiveness and success on the Rugby field, Nudgee has produced 21 Wallabies including two Australian Captains, 61 Queensland Reds and 46 Australian Schoolboy representatives since 1975. It is a school known for the number of Australian schoolboys it has provided to the sport of Rugby – the largest number of Australian school boy representatives of any GPS school in Queensland.

Kevin Ryan, Dallas O’Neill, Michael Purcell, Shane Sullivan, Michael Freney, Mark Loane, Duncan Hall, Tony D’Arcy, Ross Hanley and Glen Panoho arrived at the College at 10.30 am, and were welcomed by Principal Mr Daryl Hanly and inducted into the Nudgee Rugby Walk of Fame. Awestruck Year 8 students escorted the internationals to Ross Oval to be presented to the full student body of 1300, welcomed by the famous Nudgee war cry and echo. Those Nudgee Wallabies mentioned above then met up with other Old Boy Nudgee Internationals – Paul McLean, Elton Flatley, Hugh McMeniman and Sean Hardman – at Suncorp Stadium for a gala luncheon, attended by 500 guests.

Described as one of the most significant events in Nudgee rugby history, Old Boys flew in from all over the country, well-known corporate identities booked tables, and 1st XV teams from the 1950’s and on, reassembled for the day. Master of Ceremonies was Chris (Buddah) Handy, who handled the event with his usual panache. Well-known Rugby personality and poet, Rupert McCall wrote an original piece for the luncheon, which he read. It was auctioned, with the money raised going towards the Christopher D’Arcy Rugby Bursary fund.

The luncheon was in fact the launch for the Christopher D’Arcy Rugby Bursary fund, established by the Nudgee Parents Rugby Support Group to provide pathways for gifted players, to assist marginal students, accelerate development of coaches, and to enhance the environment surrounding Nudgee Rugby.

The fund is named for Christopher D’Arcy, who, along with Daniel Laherty, lost his life to the deadly meningococcal bacteria in August 2001. Chris was the eldest son of former Nudgee 1st XV, Brothers Rugby Club, Queensland Reds and Wallaby great, Tony D’Arcy and was himself a member of the highly respected Nudgee College 1st XV before tragedy struck.

Current Nudgee Old Boy Rugby players in the public arena include Elton Flately, Hugh McMenimem, Rocky Elsom, Peter Hewitt, Sean Hardman, Richard Brown, Scott Daruda, Tajhon Mailata and Junior Pelesasa.

Many boys who aspire to play Rugby aim for attendance at Nudgee, attracted by the school’s track record. Last year Nudgee again fielded the most number of teams in the GPS competition.

Pictured Top Left: Nudgee Rugby Legends and Grade 8 guides gather on Ross Oval. Pictured Top Right: John Fogarty played his first of two tests in 1949 and is Nudgee's oldest living Wallaby. John lives in Sydney and was unable to attend the Legends Luncheon, though he kindly signed the Jersey put up for auction.