Two of Queensland’s favourite sons, Geoff ‘Bunter’ Shaw and Tony Shaw have today been announced as inductees to the Wallaby Hall of Fame.
Tony and Geoff Shaw are the final two former Test players included for 2012, following the addition earlier this year of pre-World War II Wallaby scrum half and former NSW Rugby Union President, Francis “Wally” Meagher.
Tony Shaw was known as a hard and uncompromising forward who led the Wallabies on 15 occasions, including the famous 1980 Bledisloe Cup series win that saw the Australians retain the trans-Tasman silverware for a second straight year.
Tony Shaw enjoyed a remarkable career in Rugby. From the Gregory Terrace Rugby nursery, Shaw showed from an early age he was capable of reaching the top level.
In 1973 he put on a powerful display for Queensland against Tonga, and played himself into the Wallabies squad for a nine-match tour of England, Wales and Italy.
His outstanding form warranted selection for five of the nine games, including the Tests against Wales and England.
In 1974 Shaw was in the Queensland team against the visiting All Blacks.
But realising his preferred No.8 position was out of reach at the time due to the presence of the legendary Mark Loane Shaw decided to concentrate on flanker and second row.
When Japan visited in 1975, and England followed for two Tests, Shaw once more secured his Wallabies place, this time on the side of the scrum.
His “go-forward” style was the epitome of the confrontational mentality of the Australian pack and together with Mark Loane and Greg Cornelsen, created what is considered by many to be one of the best back row combinations in Australian Rugby history.
In 1978, Daryl Haberecht took over as Australia’s coach, and began discussions with Tony Shaw regarding the captaincy.
Even though Shaw was not captain of his club side or Queensland at the time, he was given the honour of leading out the Test team.
Under his leadership, Australia won the two Welsh Tests on home soil and Shaw retained the captaincy for the 1978 tour of NZ, where he would play 11 of the 13 matches, including the three Tests.
The first two were lost 12-13 and 6-22. Prior to the third and final Test coach Daryl Haberecht suffered a heart attack and was hospitalised.
The team rallied in his absence, and in a remarkable display overran NZ 30-16 with Greg Cornelsen scoring a record four tries.
It is reported that the reason for the Wallabies turn around in form was thanks to an inspirational on field speech from Shaw.
In 1979 Dave Brockhoff took over the coaching duties and appointed Mark Loane as the captain for the one and only Test against the All Blacks where the Wallabies won 12-6 to win the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in decades.
With Loane’s decision to go to South Africa in 1980, Shaw returned as captain and in a remarkable home series against the All Blacks, Australia ran out victors by two Tests to one.
Shaw was retained as captain for the 1980 tour of Fiji, the home games with France in 1981, and the 1981-82 Wallabies tour of the British Isles.
On 10 July 1982 at the Sydney Cricket Ground Shaw played his final Test for the Wallabies against Scotland and while there were appearance for his state against the All Blacks and Argentina the curtain was drawn on a remarkable Test career. He captained the Wallabies in 15 Tests, and Australia in 23 other matches.
His fellow Hall of Fame inductee Geoff Shaw was a talented centre who could match it with the world’s best.
From NSW country, Shaw played 22 matches for his home State before heading north to Queensland, where he became a fixture in 47 games before making his debut as a 20 year old for the Wallabies against Wales in Sydney in 1969.
That same year Shaw was selected in the touring side that travelled to South Africa playing in 16 of the 26 games, including one Test.
In 1970 Scotland arrived in Australia, and Geoff Shaw played them three times, once for NSW (won 28-14), once for NSW Country (lost 15-18) and once for Australia (won 23-3) in the sole Test.
The following year was a heavy one for Shaw. South Africa toured, and he would play five times against them, for NSW (lost 3-25), as captain of NSW Country (lost 3-19), and in the three Tests.
He then travelled with the Wallabies to France and North America for a 10-match tour where he would play six of the 10 matches including the two Tests.
In 1972 Shaw took a sabbatical from international duties and travelled the world. He secured games with the Eastern Province Currie Cup team in South Africa, and the Junior Springboks; in London he turned out for London Scottish, and also played games in France and Italy.
When he returned to Australia in 1973 he was selected for the nine-match tour of England, Wales and Italy.
He lost little over his year’s sabbatical and played in eight of the nine matches, including both Tests.
He then took on New Zealand five times in 1974 before leading the Wallabies on their tour of the British Isles and USA in 1975.
When Fiji arrived in 1976, Shaw captained the Wallabies three times securing three victories, which led to his selection as touring captain to France and Italy the same year.
In 1979 Shaw played his final Test for the Wallabies against the All Blacks in Sydney a game which the Wallabies won 12-6.
In total Shaw notched up 68 matches for Australia, which included 27 Tests. He captained Australia on nine occasions as well as a further 12 other non-Test match games.
Geoff and Tony Shaw are the 25th and 26th inductees to the Wallaby Hall of Fame and will be officially acknowledged at the John Eales Medal on Thursday, November 1.
The 2011 Hall of Fame inductees were Herbert ‘Paddy’ Moran, John Eales and Paul McLean.
Tony Shaw
Full Name:
Anthony Alexander Shaw
Date of Birth:
23/03/1953
Place of Birth:
Brisbane
School Attended:
Gregory Terrace College
Wallaby Number:
565
Test Cap:
36 (15 as Captain)
Non-Test Cap:
38
Test Points:
8 (2 tries)
Position Played:
Flanker
State:
QLD 112 (1973-83)
Clubs:
Brothers
Tours:
1973 UK, 1975-76 UK, 1976 FR, 1978 NZ, 1979 ARG, 1980 FIJI, 1981-82 UK
Geoff Shaw
Full Name:
Geoffrey Arnold Shaw
Date of Birth:
27/12/1948
Place of Birth:
Kiama, NSW
School Attended:
Edmund Rice College, NSW
Wallaby Number:
526
Test Cap:
27 (9 as Captain)
Non-Test Cap:
41
Test Points:
8 (2 tries)
Position Played:
Centre
State:
NSW 22 (1969-76), QLD (1977-80)
Clubs:
Kiama (NSW), Eastern Province (SA), Queensland University
Tours:
1969 SA, 1971 FR, 1973 UK, 1975-76 UK, 1976 FR
FULL LIST OF WALLABY HALL OF FAME MEMBERS
Geoff Shaw (Test debut 1969)
Tony Shaw (Test debut 1973)
“Wally” Meagher (Test debut 1923)
Paul McLean (Test debut 1974)
John Eales (Test debut 1991)
Herbert “Paddy” Moran (Test debut 1908)
Tom Richards (Test debut 1908)
Tom Lawton (Test debut 1920)
A.C. “Johnnie” Wallace (Test debut 1921)
Dr Alec Ross (Test debut 1925)
Cyril Towers (Test debut 1926)
Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop (Test debut 1932)
Trevor Allan (Test debut 1946)
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 2012 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 James Horwill, former Wallabies and historians Max Howell and John Freedman, and Classic Wallabies co-presidents Simon Poidevin and Jeff Miller.
