Christopher McKivat
Christopher (Chris) Hobart McKivat
1879 - 1947
Rugby Union & Rugby League International
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Christopher Hobart McKivat was born on 27 November 1879. His family moved from Cumnock to Orange in c.1888. He was educated by the Patrician Brothers in Orange and Brother Meagher was his first coach.
Chris McKivat captained 'Our Boys' from 1901 to 1904 and then joined the Glebe Club in Sydney. In 1906 he represented New South Wales and the following year he was in the Australian team against New Zealand. In 1908 he toured England with the Wallabies. During this tour, the Wallabies competed in the Olympic Games and defeated Cornwall 32-3 for which each team member was awarded an Olympic Gold Medal. Chris captained the team due to the injuries to captain Dr Moran and vice captain Fred Wood. The team members were awarded an Olympic gold medal, and Three members of the Gold Medal winning team were from Orange - in addition to McKivat, two other Orange players, Bede Smith and Charles McMurtrie were members of the gold medal team.
His rugby union career continued in 1909, but at the end of the tour, Chris McKivat and 10 other Wallabies defected to rugby league. Chris was generally recognised as the 'ring leader', but this was also credited with helping to establish rugby league in New South Wales
Chris played his first league test on 18 June 1910 in Sydney under the great Dally Messenger. He played in the second test in Brisbane and the third test, but this was dropped by the league as and official test, being classified as an 'Australasian' side contained two Maoris.
The 1911-1912 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain saw Chris captain in all 3 three tests and until 1963, this was the only Australian league team unbeaten in a test series in England.
Chris McKivat played 32 matches on tour and scored 13 tries, and is recognised as one of the finest halfbacks in Australia.
