Lawrence Dwyer
Lawrence (Larry) Joseph Dwyer
1884 - 1964
Rugby International
Lawrence Joseph Dwyer was born in Orange of poor Irish parents and he was educated at Patrician Brothers, where he played football in street shoes, as football boots were a luxury few could afford. Larry left school at the age of 12 to assist with the family's finance, and he gained employment as a solicitor's clerk and joined the famous Waratahs club.
Larry appeared certain of selection for the first Wallaby tour in 1908, but a knee injury forced him out before the side was announced. His first class career began in 1909 when he was appointed Captain of the Australian Rugby Team for its touring of Canada and North America. He was to go on and play a total of 30 representative matches, which included seven Tests. He played three Tests in America but missed the first two Tests due to a knee injury. He resumed the captaincy for the third test, won won 16 - 5 by Australia. In this match, New Zealand critics rated him among the greatest ever fullbacks from any country.
Larry played his final two Tests against New Zealand in Australia in 1914, still travelling back and forth by train from Orange to play. The outbreak of World War I ended his first class career, but in 1922, at the age of 38, he was persuaded to play rugby league for Patrician Brothers, captaining the side until he turned 40, and he continued as a referee until he was about 50.
Larry Dwyer died in Orange in August 1964, he is remembered as the greatest fullback of this era and one of the all time Greats Of Rugby.
