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.
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.
(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.
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.
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.
(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.
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.
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
I see Loane a couple of times a year at his practice in Auchenflower in Brisbane. He's been my wife's ophthalmologist for quite some years now. We actually knew his brother Micheal and his family better as our children went to the same primary school. Mark Loane still looks pretty fit to me. He's certainly not carrying any extra weight. I believe that he does a lot of pro bono eye work for aboriginal people too. He's also a very nice person. I asked him for his autograph a few years ago, and he seemed to be genuinely amazed that anyone would want his autograph. Thanks for a great article PD about a great bloke.
sheek
Roar Guru
Red Harry, Yes, all correct. It was a brief hiccup for Brothers, the self-titled 'Filth'. Between 1971-84, when one or both the McLean brothers, Jeff & Paul, & Tony Shaw & Brendan Moon, were mostly present, they won 10 premierships, including 5 in a row 1980-84. Four other clubs won once each - GPS, Teachers-Norths, Wests & university.
Dalsher
Roar Rookie
Totai Kefu and Tim Gavin were better number eights than Mark. I always enjoyed the big doctor getting stuck into the rough stuff, but his cover defence suffered because of it. Kefu was good in the tight, a damaging ball runner and an excellent defender. The number one role of a traditional number 8 is to corner flag in cover defence. I was taught that by the Wallabies greatest prop Jon White
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
With Uni the winner yes? But Brothers then went on a run from memory. Rare glory for Wests in 77!
sheek
Roar Guru
Last minute penalty in 200th minute, I believe.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Watched those 1979 club grand final and replay from XXXX hill. Great games. From unreliable memory the deadlock was finally broken in Uni's favour by a drop goal?
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Great writeup again Peter of a rugby hero of mine. What a player with his charges into the Opposition defence and all round presence. Anyone who wants to see the best of Loane watch his performance in the famous Australian Bledisloe win in a one off test at the SCG in 1979. Magnificent player. The current Reds No 8 Harry Wilson has invited comparison, though of course Andrew Slack pointed out Wilson can pass the ball … the good doctor’s passing game was not his strongest point. I am glad you note his long term work and massive contribution to health services in indigenous communities.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
It must have been 1979. The Reds were the Mighty Maroons. This was before the first state of origin in 1980, were Arthur Beetson redefined interstate league and QLD became the Maroons- taking the name away from QLD union.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
Sorry - one last story Queensland came down to play NSW. When Mark stepped of the plane the press asked him how do you think you’ll go against NSW. His politically incorrect reply was “We will crush you” And they did.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Cheers Peter! Another great read!
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
Ah, Serge Blanco!!
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
Accomplished pugilist. Was it also Kefu who was trained to box by his father and decked an Irishman in a test after a cheap shot?
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Interesting about Sally Loane.
AJ
Guest
Such a remarkable man. An absolute bull of a man too.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
No - his brother was a GPS sprint champion (200-400) record might still stand. Mark was an 18 stone winger - yes he could still play today. He had to study , work , and train in the amateur day. He never had a drink before a big game , he was professional and determined to be the best, before rugby turned professional.
sheek
Roar Guru
Short Arm, Loane spent 1980 season in RSA, covering himself in glory.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Hello Mick… How is your son doing this season? I hope that is going well :thumbup:
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Another fine treatise from you Peter, on a worthy subject. Sheek names the other four No 8s we have had, the room agrees, and that Mark Loane was at a superior level. In explaining the purpose and import of the pursuit of excellence to young graduates in civil and structural design I use an anecdote attributed to Mark Loane. Evidently a recent selection to the Wallabies arrived at an official function drunk and dishevelled. Loane summarily dismissed him with "Mediocrity ships me!" A man would be afraid to show his face again until next season! To Sheek: Sally Loane was of New England rural aristocracy, intelligent, educated and measured, the only ABC media operative worth hearing in the past 30 years - they booted her in 2005 when they discovered her conservative wrong-think. She served on the board of NSW Rugby for 7 years.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Yes Sheek, no tries scored in this one a couple of penalties from McLean & a Roger special. The Qld forward pack was a match for the mighty AB's that day even without Loane, it was Tempo's finest hour & a half. Had Loane gone to SA by then or was he injured?
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Thanks Peter for these great articles. He certainly was a childhood hero of mine, he was a giant, tough & had footy smarts. He also for a big man was quick, I can remember him often cover defending, running down wingers who were about to score. He was an aged champion at Nudgee for the 100m & hurdles I think. The bloke was good at everything. As Sheek has stated he was in that Golden era for the Wallabies & Maroons. So many remarkable players that balanced jobs with playing footy at a high level. I got to see him play a few times live at Ballymore. A test against the AB's when he was up against his opposite Murray Mexted who he seemed to tower over & the likes of 'Cowboy' Shaw who he manhandled like a rag doll such was his strength. He was a very fair player & never seemed to get caught up with niggling or fisty cups. Though he didn't mind a good rucking clean out if it was on. Sadly, he was hamstrung in his last home series that he captained the Wallabies against Scotland in 1982. When he was given a team my Bob Dywer diluted with underperforming Waratahs compared to his Qld side who had beaten the AB's previously. He lost the 1st test at Ballymore with Dwyer's pets, but order was restored when he was given a lot of his Qld team mates back. They won the 2nd test in Sydney resoundingly to finish on a high. A product of these amateur times, he retired too early so he could earn some coin.