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Opinion

Mark Loane: A man of two diverse worlds

14th April, 2022
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Roar Guru
14th April, 2022
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There are those who are exceptionally good at one career option, others who can combine two choices, those who are multipotentialites – those with many interests and creative pursuits – and people who do a job that pays the bills.

Mark Loane sits in the category of someone who excelled at two career options, rugby and ophthalmology. It seems ironic that someone could crunch an opposition player with punishing physical defence and then treat a patient with delicate eye issues.

Of course, his second career did begin after his rugby career finished.

I sometimes look with envy at those who have one or two work preferences, as I consider myself a multipotentialite, a psychological and educational term used to describe people who display aptitudes across multiple disciplines.

The term was popularised by Emilie Wapnick on Puttylike and in her 2015 TED talk, ‘Why Some of Us Don’t have One True Calling’. I still do not know what I am going to be when I grow up!

Mark Loane stated that, “rugby taught me how to discipline myself, and how to concentrate”.

He used these traits – a laser-like focus, perfectionism and obsessive qualities – to advance his career in medicine and ophthalmology.

The qualities of a top-class rugby player – including determination, competitiveness and commitment – can be used to beneficial effect in a post-rugby career.

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His advice to aspiring rugby players was to, “ensure you have other career paths after rugby”. Loane certainly did that.

Mark Edward Loane was born in Ipswich, Queensland, on 11 July 1954, and was the son of a judge. He attended Gympie Christian Brothers before being sent to St Joseph’s Nudgee College as a boarder.

Loane played senior rugby at the University of Queensland where state and national coach Bob Templeton noticed him. At the incredible age of 18 for a forward, he made his Test debut against Tonga in 1973.

A general view of a lineout at sunset

(Photo by Richard Heathcote – World Rugby via Getty Images)

From 1974 to 1978, Loane made Wallabies appearances against the All Blacks, Japan, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Fiji and the USA.

He captained the Wallabies against the All Blacks at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1979, a match won by the Wallabies. Loane also captained Australia on their tour of Argentina in 1979.

In 1980 he left for South Africa to advance his medical career and compare himself to the Springboks. Loane captained Natal and the South African Barbarians against the British and Irish Lions, he was selected as a junior Springbok and was in line to play for the Springboks.

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But home called and he returned to Australia in 1981 where he was selected to play France. As with many players, there is a fleeting period where they are at their peak.

Loane’s came on the 1981-82 tour of Britain and Ireland under the captaincy of Tony Shaw. He played in 17 of 23 matches, including all the Tests. He was aged 27, which anecdotally is a popular age for players to reach their peak form.

But after a peak, there is a trough and Mark Loane’s career ended in 1982 when he captained Queensland and the Wallabies versus the touring Scotland team.

His strong build, devastating attacks, robust defence and competitiveness made Loane the champion number eight in Australian rugby history.

Mark Loane was described by Bret Harris in The Marauding Maroons as the “closest thing to a folk hero Queensland has seen”.

Upon retiring, he stopped playing instantly, threw away his boots and rugby balls, passed a difficult exam and life moved on.

After retiring, Loane was awarded the Australian Sports Medal, and in 2007 was inducted into the Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame.

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The prestigious Mark Loane Medal in the US is awarded to recognise the outstanding potential of America’s best high school rugby player.

He described 1982 “as a good time to retire” as he made a seamless transition into ophthalmology, which was his second calling.

Mark Loane

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Ophthalmology differs from optometrists and opticians as the training is more extensive and the level of what they can diagnose and treat is more advanced.

Loane had a desire to do work in developing nations and ophthalmology allowed that. He currently works at the Vision Eye Institute in Brisbane and has a strong passion in providing ophthalmic services to Indigenous people.

Be careful with spelling ‘ophthalmology’ too, they sneaked an extra H in there!

Mark Loane described Ballymore, the former home of Queensland rugby, as having a village-like atmosphere with the crowd being close.

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In an interview with Tom Hamilton in 2018 he summed up the difference between the amateur and professional eras as: “I have always had a problem with the fact that people appear to be pulled out of their community structure in the professional era. I always thought that the most you can think about rugby was about 15 hours per week as well.”

He would also restrict the use of substitutes, to bring a return in rugby to a war of attrition.

His advice to aspiring players? “Get the gift, create desire, concentrate for the required period and lastly, have divine luck.”

His father said about him that “he’s a bookworm, but he’ll come good”.

Yes, he certainly has. One of the great number eights in world rugby history, a determined student and a successful creator of a post-rugby career.

Mark Loane, another favourite Wallaby player.

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