Nick Farr-Jones Voted into Hall of Fame

Former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones will become the 13th member of the Wallabies Hall of Fame.

Australia’s first World Cup winning captain Nick Farr-Jones has been voted into one of the game’s most exclusive clubs – the Wallabies Hall of Fame.

The former Test skipper who played 63 Tests from 1984 to 1993 will be officially inducted during an on-field ceremony before Saturday night’s Bledisloe Cup match at ANZ Stadium in Homebush.

The announcement was made this morning by Australian Rugby Union chairman Peter McGrath, on behalf of the eight-man Hall of Fame Committee.

“This honour is for the legends of our game,” said Mr McGrath.

“Nick Farr-Jones will become the 13th member of the Hall of Fame, joining Ken Catchpole, Mark Loane, Sir Nicholas Shehadie, David Campese, Mark Ella, John Hipwell, John Thornett, Col Windon, Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop, Tom Lawton junior, Tom Richards and Cyril Towers.

“And a brief summary of his credentials show why Nick has been honoured in this way.

“He played in 63 Tests in the amateur era, which was a magnificent achievement, and he captained Australia on 36 occasions.

“He was part of the 1984 Grand Slam team, the 1986 Bledisloe Cup winning side in New Zealand and he was, of course, our first World Cup winning captain in 1991.

“The Hall of Fame, however, is not only about what a player has achieved on the field.

“It is also about what he has contributed to the game overall, and Nick remains one of the most respected and revered figures in Australian sport.

“He was, and still is, a wonderful role model for Rugby.”

Farr-Jones is the second player unveiled as a Hall of Fame inclusion this year.

Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop was announced in Melbourne last month as a pre-Second World War induction.

A third Hall of Fame announcement will be made in the days before the Bledisloe Cup Test in Brisbane on September 13.

Farr-Jones was also appointed one of seven ARU Statesmen earlier this year, alongside fellow Hall of Famers in Ken Catchpole, Sir Nicholas Shehadie and Mark Loane.

“It is important for us to acknowledge and embrace the greats of our game,” said Mr McGrath.

“The Statesman program introduced this year, and the continuation of the Hall of Fame, allows us to do that.”

NICK FARR-JONES

Wallaby Number: 645

Position: Halfback

Tests: 63

Test debut: v England at Twickenham 1984

Last Test: v South Africa in Sydney 1993

Tests as skipper: 36

WALLABY HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

Nick Farr-Jones

Mark Ella

David Campese

Ken Catchpole

Sir Nicholas Shehadie

Mark Loane

Col Windon

John Thornett

John Hipwell

Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop

Cyril Towers

Tom Lawton jnr

Tom Richards

HALL OF FAME PROCESS

Each year two or more of Australia's greats from all eras of the international game are inducted into the Wallaby Hall of Fame. Inductees are drawn from all Test teams starting with the first side in 1899.

To be eligible for inclusion in the Wallaby Hall of Fame, a player must have:

• Played at least one Test for Australia
• Been retired from Rugby for at least 10 years
• Made a major contribution to the game of Rugby
• Demonstrated outstanding ability, sportsmanship, commitment, character and personal contribution to their team and the game in their era.

While consideration is given to a players’ on-field career, induction is not based on statistical achievement alone.

The Hall of Fame committee includes ARU President Paul McLean as chairman, ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill, ARU past presidents Peter Crittle and Phil Harry, Qantas Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock, former Wallabies and game historians Max Howell and John Freedman, Classic Wallabies president Stu MacDougall.

Click here to find out more about the Wallaby Hall of Fame inductees.