IRAA is proudly represented by the following past and present players.
Matt Burke
Matt was a key member in Wallabies sides that won the 1999 Rugby World Cup, multiple Bledisloe Cups and Australia’s sole test series win against the British and Irish Lions in 2001. He is the most-capped fullback and the second highest scorer for Australia in Test rugby.
Professional roles:
Wallabies (81 caps)
Waratahs Super Rugby (78 caps)
Newcastle Falcons, Eastwood
Michael Lynagh
Former Wallabies Captain from 1993-1995, Lynagh was the world leading point scorer when he retired in 1995 with 911 points. He was vice-captain in the winning 1991 World Cup team and until relieved of kicking duties by Marty roebuck, scored in every international test he played in from 1984-1991
Professional roles:
Wallabies (72 caps),
QLD Reds, Benetton Treviso, Saracens
John Eales
John Eales is the most successful captain in the history of Australian rugby, winning the World Cup as a player in 1991 and as captain in 1999. He is also the highest scoring forward in Test rugby history, mostly due to his goal-kicking prowess. In 2007, he was inducted into the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame.
Professional roles:
Wallabies 1991-2001 (86 Caps), Queensland Reds Super Rugby 1996-2001, Brothers Rugby Club 1989-1999.
Nick Farr Jones
After playing in the 1986 Bledisloe Cup series win against the All Blacks, he played in the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 and a year later was named Australian captain, at the age of 25. Nick was captain of the 1991 World-Cup winning Wallabies and was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011.
Professional roles:
Wallabies 1984-1993 (63 Caps), NSW Waratahs, Sydney University Rugby Club.
George Gregan
One of Australia’s finest, George has the honour of being the most capped Wallaby with 139 Test matches. Making his debut in 1999, George made an immediate impact for the team. In one of the most memorable moments in the Wallabies-All Blacks rivalry, Gregan made THAT try-saving tackle on All Black Jeff Wilson that directly led to Australia winning the Bledisloe Cup.
Professional roles:
Wallabies (139 caps)
Brumbies Super Rugby (136 caps)
Toulon, Suntory Sungoliath,
Randwick
Grace Hamilton
Hailing from Panuara in Country NSW, Grace started playing rugby on a University exchange in the USA. Grace was selected in the Wallaroos for the 2016 tour of New Zealand. She was appointed captain in June 2019.
Professional roles:
Wallaroos 2016- , Australian Sevens 2017, NSW Super W 2018 (Champions), Sydney 2014.
Tim Horan
After making his debut in 1989, Tim Horan was a main-stay in the Wallabies side for the next decade. Arguably, one of the best inside-centres to have played the game, Tim is a dual World Cup winner and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
Professional roles:
Wallabies (80 caps)
Queensland (119 caps )
Souths, Saracens.
Rod Kafer
Rod was the first player to have received winners medals from the major Southern and Northern Hemisphere rugby tournaments, the Super 12 with the ACT Brumbies in 2001 and the Heineken Cup with the Leicester Tigers in 2002.
Professional roles:
Wallabies 1999-2000 (12 Caps), Brumbies 1996-2001, Leicester Tigers 2001-03, Player coach of Saracens 2004, Australian Rugby Union High Performance.
Phil Kearns
Phil Kearns made his Wallaby debut in 1989 and was a member of of the 1991 & 1999 World-Cup winning Wallabies sides. Phil was inducted into the Australian Rugby Hall of Fame in 2018.
Professional roles:
Wallabies 1989-1999 (67 Caps), NSW Waratahs, Randwick
Andrew Mehrtens
Regarded as one of the best five-eighths to play the game, Mehrtens was a prolific point scorer for the All Blacks and played a vital role in their dominance between 1995-2004. In 72 Tests Andrew accrued 967 points, second only to Dan Carter.
Professional roles:
All Blacks (70 caps)
Crusaders Super Rugby (87 caps )
Canterbury, Béziers Racing 92, Toulon, Harlequins