First Nations Wallabies: Gary, Glen and Mark - The Ella Brothers

Wallabies backrower Sean McMahon chats to the media in Townsville.

To honour the Wallabies wearing the First Nations jersey against Argentina, Rugby.com.au has taken a look back at the incredible efforts by First Nations Wallabies - looking at the Ella brothers.

There may not be a greater set of siblings in Australian sport than the Ella Brothers, who helped inspire a new generation of sporting stars and changed how the game of Rugby Union was played.

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The Ella's were at the core of Australia’s rugby success during the early 1980s: Mark as the silky flyhalf, Gary the graceful centre and Glen the dynamic fullback.

Born in Sydney and educated at Matraville High School, the brothers was members of the undefeated 1977/78 ‘Invincibles’ Australian Schools side.

It is arguable that there has never been a better schoolboys backline than the one Australia fielded against Wales on that tour - 9. Dominic Vaughan; 10. Mark Ella; 11. Michael O’Connor; 12. Tony Melrose; 13. Gary Ella; 14. Michael Hawker; and 15. Glen Ella.

By 1979 Mark had debuted for both Sydney and New South Wales but it was in 1980 when he came into his own, firstly for Sydney in their stunning 13-13 draw with the All Blacks and then in the tight 4-12 loss for New South Wales.

He would go on to make his Test debut not long after his 21st birthday against New Zealand in Sydney.

Whilst the brothers would tear up Sydney club Rugby for Randwick, it would take until 1982 for the trio to be selected in the same Wallabies for a tour of New Zealand, Mark eventually named as captain in place of Paul McLean.

The three Ella's selected for a Wallabies tour of United Kingdom and Ireland
The three Ella's selected for a Wallabies tour of United Kingdom and Ireland

Glen was handed his debut earlier in the 1982 season alongside Mark against Scotland, however, a shock loss would see Roger Gould reinstated for the rest of the season.

Gary earned his Test debut in the first Test at Lancaster Park against the Kiwis, touring to Italy and France in 1983 and played in the two French Tests before ongoing knee issues and surprise selections saw him miss spots on the ‘Grand Slam’ tour and in the Wallaby squad for the inaugural Rugby World Cup.

Meanwhile, Mark would announce his shock retirement in 1984 after he toured with the Eighth Wallabies to Britain where they became the first Australian team to defeat all four Home Nations on a single tour.

Ella created his own piece of history on the ‘Grand Slam’ tour when he scored a try in each of the four Tests, finishing with 25 caps.

The year later, Glen picked up his final two of four caps, the first off the bench when he replaced Nigel Kassulke at outside centre in the 2nd Test, 43-15 victory over Canada at Ballymore, and the second at fullback in the 2nd Test, 31-9 win over Fiji at the S.C.G.

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In 1988, Gary returned to the side and added his fifth and sixth Test caps as he replaced the retired Andrew Slack, who had taken over the captaincy from Gary before his retirement.

The brothers are considered some of the finest to grace a Rugby field, with Mark labelled "the best rugby player I have ever known or seen" by David Campese.

He would go on to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997 and in 2005, Ella was one of the original five inductees into the Wallaby Hall of Fame.

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