David Green (email avail on request)

Stan McCabe went to St josephs but he had the advantage that he had left school by the age of 16. Therefore, his talent wasn’t held back by having to play GPs sports.

http://www.rl1908.com/Kangaroos/jerseys.htm

“…………Following the formation of the Australian Rugby League Board of Control in 1924, it was resolved to use the colours of gum-leaf green and wattle gold…………”

“………The new jersey, designed in green with gold hooped bands, made its debut in the 1928 First Test in Brisbane…….”

“………The green jersey with the gold ‘V’ ……….This jersey has been in continuous use since the first Test of 1929……..The double-V style is a direct replica of the neck band on Australian Test cricketers’ vests – a gold double-V on a green backing………”

In what is perhaps a unique occurrence, Chris played cricket for England in the WI at the same time Alan played stand-off half for England in a Calcutta Cup match.

Part II includes not only Test cricketers who are dual internationals in football (soccer) but also in hockey, tennis, baseball and badminton. Lot of research but very rewarding. Especially with the Crowd making valuable additions.

MyGeneration, ‘Tip’ Foster is very much there.

Thanks for the interest in this topic, all you Roarers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip_Foster

If that’s not of interest to you then fine but don’t get all narky with the rest of us.

Made his SA district cricket debut aged 14,
SANFL debut aged 17,
SA shield debut aged 19
at age 21 he toured NZ for Australia playing in the unofficial ‘tests’.

ok – he only captained Australia in the one test in 1968, covering for the injured Bill Lawry in the Headingly test.

Far more likely to progress were the folk playing a more contained ‘football’ season. Thus, the Australian Football fellows in years gone by – who were so often able to leave their choice of which code to focus on to a later stage in their footballing careers. Thus, being able to reach the ‘highest level’. Back in the day, there were many VFL players for example who were champions runners, competing and winning the Stawell Gift amongst other foot races. Those days appear gone. (see list of 9 : ‘VFL’ winners. )

What might be interesting would be to review if possible the Under 19s – how many dual junior internationals are there?

btw – is it sufficient for the purpose of this, that an Australian Footballer have made the ‘All-Australian’ team. After all, selection there is from a broader pool of talent than in the Wallabies??

Denis Compton did not represent England in rugby. With Arsenal Football Club he won a league medal and Cup-winner’s medal and earned 14 wartime England soccer caps. Denis’s elder brother Leslie played cricket for Middlesex and soccer for Arsenal and England. So neither was a genuine dual international but were so between the two.

The most obvious answer to this, as taken from another comment, is “[Jeff] Wilson has commented that it a long time for him to lose the body of a rugby player and develop the body of a cricketer.”

I think someone wondered why there is a particular paucity of dual rugby-cricket internationals in Australia. I would hazard the following guesses: (a) it is so incredibly hard to make the Australian cricket team, whereas – how to put this politely? – rugby has generally not attracted the creme de la creme of Australian sporting talent, and (b) nowhere in the world is cricket more egalitarian than in Australia (I recommend reading Peter Roebuck on this), whereas rugby in Australia is largely an elitist sport.

Illustrating both these points: one of the things that has caused angst in Sydney GPS circles for many years is why their cricket system fails to produce top-level cricketers – from Jim Burke to Phil Emery (1 test) and John Davison (Canada) was a very long drought at international level which, if one is being honest, is still ongoing. And even at state level there have been very few successes for Sydney’s GPS schools over recent decades.

Finally, it surprises me that, on the topic of dual sporting prowess, there has not yet been a single mention of the peerless Denis Compton.

“Graeme Christopher Hughes (born 6 December 1955) is an Australian sportsman turned broadcaster, born in Stanmore, Sydney. He is the last man to have played both rugby league and cricket for New South Wales. His father Noel Hughes played cricket for Worcestershire in the 1950s…….”

I appreciate your additions and corrections.

Kersei and I started this off with Allan Walker. While the topic is International Rugby (ie union and League) an error of which codes he played should be corrected. There is plenty of room to discusss all codes, though under the appropriate article it should be observed. It is a little ironic given some strong anti Rugby language, that it was Westy brought Australian rules into the discssion (one that talks of cricket and Rugby). Maybe this exploration of Cricket and Aust Rules should be for a later article by Kersi or someone else. Any Aussie rules fan up for it??

A point mentioned by Westy (and while acknowling the input of Trumper in development of various codes of football in Sydney) I don’t think Trumper had a hand in the design of the kangaroo jersey (though please share some references if you have them) The current green and gold ‘V’ came into being in 1928-29. Before then RU and RL both wore variations of Maroon and Sky Blue – reflecting the two manin states NSW and Queensland. If anyone has knowledge of the reason for Union and Leagye wearing grenn and gold in 1928-29 I’d be interested to hear from you.

A little know fact is that the criekct coat of arms (different ffrom the Commonweath COA) was worn in that season 1928-29 and 1929, by boith RL and RU international sides. Does anyone know why?? After they both reverted to the Commonwealth COA and before both wore variations of Waratahs (RU) , A and Wallabies or Kangaroos.

regards Michael Fahey

I realise that Professor David Beckham is calling you, so don’t let the door hit you on your way out.

As an aside, Andrew Stoddart was one of highest paid rugby and cricket players of his era – he managed that depite being supposedly an amateur in bost sports.