Education
Royal Agricultural University.
Royal Agricultural University.
He would late become one of only twenty dual Rugby Union World Cup winners. He made his test debut at the age of 19 against France 4 November 1989 on the Australian tour to Europe that year and shortly afterwards, he and Tim Horan were subjected to a mock ceremony where they pledged their futures to Rugby Union, promising not to defect to League. Both were to receive numerous offers from league clubs but turned them down.
His nickname was "Sidney".
Targeted by Will Carling during the 1991 World Cup as a possible weak spot in the Australian defence, he was proved wrong as the youngster tackled everything thrown at him. In the Barbarians match at the end of the 1992 Autumn tour, he showed northern hemisphere audiences what Australian"s fans already knew - that he could pierce a defence as well.
In the second Test of the tour against South Africa in 1993, he threw an interception pass which allowed Joel Stransky to run the length of the field and score under the posts. Australia had lost the first Test and the Boks were well up on the score sheet as a result of this and he was later to remark that his immediate reaction was that his career was over.
He later moved south to New South Wales Waratahs in 2000 to resurrect his international career, a move which kept him the test squad and earning him a place and a second winners medal at the Rugby World Cup 1999.
After retiring from International Rugby, he played briefly in England, firstly for Gloucester Rugby, then for a season as captain of West Country rivals Bristol Rugby, leading them to their first Twickenham appearance for 14 years, before retiring altogether from top-flight rugby. Having retired, he undertook a course in Land Management at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.