Australia's Grand Slam winning captain Andrew Slack has today become the latest member into one of the game’s most exclusive clubs – the Wallaby Hall of Fame.

 

The former Test centre and skipper who played 39 Tests from 1978 to 1987, and led his country on 19 occasions, is the first of three inductees to be unveiled for season 2010.

 

One of Queensland Rugby’s favourite sons, Slack is the 18th player to join the Wallaby Hall of Fame as Brisbane prepares to host Australia’s opening match in this year’s Bundaberg Red Tri Nations series against the Springboks at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

 

The other two players to be included in the Hall of Fame this season will be announced in coming weeks.

 

Slack joins other all-time greats of Australian Rugby in the Hall of Fame – Ken Catchpole, Mark Loane, Sir Nicholas Shehadie, David Campese, Mark Ella, John Hipwell, Nick Farr-Jones, Alec Ross, John Thornett, Col Windon, Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop, Tom Lawton, Tom Richards, Cyril Towers, Des Connor, Tony Miller and Jon White.

 

He was also one of the original seven former Australian captains appointed as ARU Classic Wallabies Statesmen in 2008.

 

Slack is still remembered as the man who held the captaincy reins when the Wallabies embarked on their first modern-day Golden Era.

 

He was at the helm when the Wallabies made an unbeaten march through their four Tests in the UK and Ireland in 1984, winning a Grand Slam for the first time with their victories over England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

 

Slack was also the skipper when the Wallabies won the Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand two years later – the first Australian side to lift the trophy on All Blacks soil since Trevor Allan’s team in 1949.

 

The reliable midfield general had come out of retirement to lead the Wallabies in 1986.

 

He had initially retired after the Grand Slam triumph, sitting out the 1985 season, before returning to secure another Bledisloe Cup series win and lead Australia into the first World Cup in 1987.

 

Slack made his Queensland debut in 1975 at the age of 19 and three years later was on debut for Australia against Wales, in a series the Wallabies won 2-nil.

 

The following year he was part of the landmark victory over the All Blacks at the SCG in a one off Test which delivered Australia the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in 30 years.

 

Slack still considers beating the All Blacks in 1986, in New Zealand in a three-Test series, as his greatest achievement in an Australian jersey.

 

“Beating the All Blacks is the ultimate in world Rugby,” he said.

 

 

ANDREW SLACK

 

Position: Centre

Tests: 39

Tests as skipper: 19

Test debut: v Wales in Brisbane 1978

Last Test: v Wales in Rotorua 1987 (World Cup)

 

 

FULL LIST OF WALLABY HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

 

Tom Richards (Test debut 1908)

Tom Lawton (Test debut 1920)

Dr Alec Ross (Test debut 1925)

Cyril Towers (Test debut 1926)

Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop (Test debut 1932)

Col Windon (Test debut 1946)

Sir Nicholas Shehadie (Test debut 1947)

Tony Miller (Test debut 1952)

John Thornett (Test debut 1955)

Des Connor (Test debut 1958)

Jon White (Test debut 1958)

Ken Catchpole (Test debut 1961)

John Hipwell (Test debut 1968)

Mark Loane (Test debut 1973)

Andrew Slack (debut 1978)

Mark Ella (Test debut 1980)

David Campese (Test debut 1982)

Nick Farr-Jones (Test debut 1984)

 

 

HALL OF FAME PROCESS

 

Each year three past players – one from the pre-World War II era and two from the post-World War II period – are inducted into the Wallaby Hall of Fame.

 

Inductees are drawn from any Test teams dating back to the first international side in 1899.

 

To be eligible for inclusion in the Wallaby Hall of Fame, a player must have:

Played at least one Test for Australia
Been retired from Rugby for at least 10 years
Made a major contribution to the game of Rugby
Demonstrated outstanding ability, sportsmanship, commitment, character and personal contribution to their team and the game in their era.
While consideration is given to a players’ on-field career, induction is not based on statistical achievement alone.

The 2010 Hall of Fame committee consisted of the following: ARU President Ron Graham as chairman, ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill, ARU past presidents Paul McLean and Peter Crittle, Qantas Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom, former Wallabies and historians Max Howell and John Freedman, and Classic Wallabies co-presidents Simon Poidevin and Jeff Miller.