Charles McMurtie
Charles H (Mac) McMurtrie
1880 - 1951
Rugby Union International
Mac McMurtrie played rugby for Orange, New South Wales Country, New South Wales and Australia. Although he was well known in the Orange district as an all round athlete, his selection in the Wallabies 1908-08 touring side to Great Britain and North America came as a complete surprise in rugby circles.
Charles McMurtrie and Eddie McIntyre were two Orange players in the Central West side and from here McMurtrie was selected for New South Wales Country to play City in 1908.
Mac was a big, strong, running forward coming in at 88 kg and 178cm tall, but as he had virtually played no top presentative rugby he was not even tipped for a place in the Wallaby side. As a result of his inexperience, Mac played in very few of the important matches on tour. Along with Bede Smith and Chris McKivat he won an Olympic gold medal in London in the match against Cornwall, who were representing Great Britain at the Olympic Games.
At the completion of the Wallaby tour and the subsequent defection of many of the players to rugby league, Mac played one more game for his State against Queensland and then dropped out of first class football.
