Bruce Wells
Bruce G Wells
1937 -
Rugby International
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Bruce 'Dealer' Wells began his Rugby career at Shore School before serving a stint in outback Queensland as a jackeroo. When the family purchased a newsagency in Orange, Bruce joined the Emus Club and soon made his presence felt as a nippy five-eight.
At the age of eighteen he was selected for the 1957 tour of Ceylon by the Australian Colts and he capped a great career by being chosen in the Australian team to play the Maoris in the first test in Brisbane in 1958. Australia won the match in the last 60 seconds 15 - 14 and it was a late tackle on Bruce that gave Australia the penalty.
Bruce Wells turning in an impressive running and kicking game in his Test debut and it came as a shock to many when he lost his place to Arthur Summons for the remainder of the series. In the same season under the leadership of Don Strachan, Bruce played against the Maoris in a match won by the Central West at Wade Park.
Bruce took the following season off and toured the world with the Queensland Collegians Cricket team, but played rugby again for the Central West in 1961. Central West won Country Week and Bruce played another representative match against the Fijians at Wade Park in Orange, but it was to be his last season. He retired somewhat disillusioned with the administration and treatment given to him.
Many followers of the sport felt that Bruce was unjustly treated and a career, which may have seen him become one of Australia's greatest players, was cut short. In later life Bruce moved with his family to the sunshine of Queensland's Gold Coast.
