Twenty Questions with Qantas Wallabies scrumhalf Luke “Tucker” Burgess
October 10, 2008 - 10:46am
Story by: ARU
He has five nicknames and his favourite Rugby memory is his dad buying him a hamburger after his first match; Qantas Wallabies scrumhalf Luke Burgess has enjoyed a golden first season in the golden jersey.
But is wasn’t always such for the plucky 25-year-old. At school at Joeys “McLorin” couldn’t make the First XV and he spent may years sitting on the bench at the Brumbies watching George Gregan strut his stuff before being unceremoniously dumped from the squad.
In 2004 “Tucker” was a member of Australian Under 21 squad who placed fourth at the iRB World Championships and then extraordinary performances firstly for Easts in the Sydney club comp, where he inspired them to their first Grand Final appearance in 16 years, then the short-lived Melbourne Rebels in the Australian Rugby Championship, saw ‘Burgo” snap up a contract at the NSW Waratahs.
Then another hiccup. Early in the Super 14, after coming off the bench in a few matches, “Legend” was again sent back to club Rugby by then coach Ewen McKenzie but once more “Jerk” rose to the occasion when he needed it most.
Outstanding for Easts that weekend he then found himself starting for the Tahs in their next match against the Blues. Burgess was just as good against the Blues in a Man of the Match performance that saw him catapulted in 80-minutes to the number one contender for the now vacant Wallabies scrumhalf berth.
Burgess never let his grip slip and went on to play six Tests for the Wallabies in 2008, making his Test debut against Ireland in June, before a cruel knee injury sustained during training robbed him of a successful conclusion to the Tri-Nations.
This was not the first time injury had intervened at a cruel time in the Burgess career. In 2006, he was leading the vote in the race for the Ken Catchpole Medal for Eastern Suburbs until a foot injury sidelined him mid-season, but he was later named in the Wallaby Tri Nations train-on squad.
But just who is the real Luke Burgess? Find out below in our EXCLUSIVE 20 Questions.
Nickname
Burgo, McLorin, Tucker, Jerk, Legend
Primary Schools/High Schools/Universities attended:
St John the Baptist Primary, Maitland.
St Josephs College, Hunter’s Hill
Sydney University
First Rugby team I played in
Maitland Blacks
My all time favourite Classic Wallaby
Nick Farr-Jones
My most respected Rugby opponent
Dan Carter
My Favourite non-Rugby sporting star
Roger Federer
My best Rugby memory
Dad buying me a hamburger after my first match
My embarrassing/worse Rugby moment:
Losing my last match at Joey’s to Kings.
Speciality I can cook in the kitchen is
Meatballs ! Bellissimo !
Away from Rugby things I enjoy doing
Golf, reading.
The team mate I would least like to room with is
Lote Tuqiri
Why ?
He is my current roomy and it’s a running joke at the moment.
My favourite holiday destination is
Maitland
My favourite book/movie/music:
The Power of One
The Shawshank Redemption
Reggae
If I wasn’t a Professional Rugby Player I would be:
Studying
What being a Wallaby means to me
It means to behave and act as an Australian would like to be represented
Favourite Stadium to play in:
Newlands, Cape Town
Best country toured
Scotland
The thing I most can’t do without is
A good book!
