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SAM PAYNE A former student from The Armidale School, Sam hails originally from Walcha. Moving to Sydney in the early 90s after school, Sam linked up with Eastern Surburbs RFC and moved quickly into the NSW Waratahs camp, going on to make 90 caps for the Tah’s (making him the 7th highest capped Waratah of all time). Sam played 7 times for Australia scoring 1 try.
Damian Smith 17 Jan 2013 - Former Saint Alberts college student and 1995 RWC Wallaby winger Damian Smith today confirmed his support and attendance to October’s event. Damian is considering taking the field for the Albies (2) side in the Golden Oldies competition. The ... Wallaby winger sits alongside fellow Reds team mates Tim Horan and Chris latham as 6th on the list of the most capped QLD reds players of all time having amassed 119 caps. Damian went on to also gain 21 caps for Australia after debuting in 1993 against South Africa. His last game was in 1998 against Fiji.
Peter Phipps Peter was born in Batavia, (aka Jakarta), Java, in 1933. Peter’s mother was from Armidale originally while his father was from Sydney. Peter attended Barker College, Hornsby, from 1940 to 1950 with all his early rugby being played at Barker, reaching their 1st XV as fullback. Peter’s coach at the time was former Saint Josephs 1st XV representative and 1930 NSW Waratah Jimmy Carlton who coached Peter and reminded him to always concentrate on the basics of the game, kick with a purpose at all times, defend with conviction and back up when possible. Peter was chosen as fullback in the Combined Associated Schools 1st XV in 1950. Peter’s tertiary Education was undertaken at Hawkesbury Agricultural College from 1951 and he graduated in 1953 playing the entire three years as centre in the 1st XV team and captaining the team in 1953 (Honour Caps 1952 & 1953) Peter then played for Gordon Rugby Club, in Sydney, 46 new england focus.
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Richard Tombs A former pupil of TAS, Norths player Richard Tombs was selected in the victorious Wallaby World Cup squad, but had to wait until 1992 to play his first two tests, against Scotland, at home. Tombs racked up a massive 73 caps for the Waratahs as a centre and 5 tests for the Wallabies between 1992 and 1996. Richard also played for Brisbane first grade club Souths Magpies and finished his career in 2000 at English club Gloucester where he ran on 56 times.
Fletcher was in the starting XV at F S Stadium Australia in 2000 for one of the best rugby games ever played between the Wallabies and the Allblacks.
Fletcher Dyson 14 Jan2013 - Former Queensland and Wallaby Prop, Fletcher Dyson has today confirmed that he will be running around on the park for Wright College in October. Wright College is Fletchers former UNE club side. Fletcher was in the starting XV at Stadium Australia in 2000 for one of the best rugby games ever played between the Wallabies and the Allblacks.
with whom his two elder brothers were playing and in 1954 was chosen in the Gordon 1st grade side with brother Jim and eldest brother John. 1955 was Peter’s best year and he was chosen to play for ‘ North of the Harbour’, City Colts, then NSW against Queensland, in which both him and his brother Jim played. The Australian team was announced with Peter and Jim both named in the 1955 team to tour NZ. He represented NSW also in 1956 against Queensland. Peter ended his playing days just before the trials for the British Isles trip in 1957, playing for Gordon, Peter broke his back during a Sydney club game, spending 6 months in a plaster cast, enduring a spinal fusion then learning to walk again. A further 18 months of rehab followed. Peter was married with one child at that stage. Peter came to Armidale in 1965 to be the pastoral manager for the then Governor General, Viscount Lord D’Lisle’s three properties in the Armidale District. One property on the Eastern side in the Black Mountain area.
One on the West side in the Booralong and one close to Armidale city. Peter assumed the positions of president, selector and coach of the New England Zone, club sides and schools as well as refereeing the local schools and rep sides. He hosted the French R.U. National Side in Armidale in 1972 with their clash against NSW country at Armidale Rugby League Park and notes that Ken McConville was secretary of the Zone during those times. Peter took up coaching, refereeing, club and zone interests from 1965 until 1978 in Armidale. In 1972 Peter and his family had a ‘sea change’ and purchased the Galloping Grape wine bar / restaurant in Jessie St. Armidale and were there until 1978, when finally they moved to Repton, to retire near Bellingen. * Interesting facts – there are four Wallabies in the Phipps line. Peters uncle Jim (1929), his brother Jim, Peter & Nick Phipps, who is currently playing for the Melbourne Rebels and Australia.