Rugby Union

By the turn of the century rugby was a major winter sport and became a very popular spectator sport. The first Australian representative team, the Wallabies, toured the United Kingdom, Ireland and North America for 9 months in 1908. The tour coincided with the London Olympic Games, where three local boys - Bede Smith, Chris McKivat and Charles McMurtrie - represented Australia against Cornwall who were the nominated team to represent Great Britain.

Rugby Union came under a lot of criticism for its rules and regulations and in 1907/1908 a combination of the new code, Rugby League, was being played. At the end of the tour Chris McKivat and ten other Wallabies defected to Rugby League.

During World War I, rugby all but closed down because players enlisted in the armed forces. After the war, Rugby Union was adopted in state schools, ensuring participation from a variety of backgrounds.

Orange City Council made provisions for the local community and improved Wade Park in Orange in 1925 to include a new football oval.

The 1950s saw unrivalled growth of Rugby Union with the formation of local Rugby Clubs, Orange Emus, Orange City and later Orange Ag College and Waratahs, and important matches being played in the area. Wade Park has been privileged to hold matches between Western Districts v. the Fijians in June 1954, Central West v. Maoris in June 1958, NSW Country v. South African Springboks in May 1971 and again in 1993 and Argentina v. NSW B in 1995.

Christopher (Chris) Hobart McKivat

1879 - 1947

Rugby Union & Rugby League International

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.

Bruce G Wells

1937 -

Rugby International

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.

William (Bill) John Gunther

1931 - 2009

Rugby International

William John Gunther was born at Bathurst and attended St Joseph's College in Hunters Hill before moving on to Wagga Wagga Agricultural College. In his early career Bill played a few one-season stints with Wagga Wagga, Bathurst and Wellington and when he moved back to Orange in 1953 he played with the Emus Club.

From 1954 to 1961 Bill signed up with Molong and between1955 and 1962 he was a regular member of the New South Wales Country team. After a powerhouse display for Country in 1957 he won selection for New South Wales and from there he was chosen for Australia in what was to be his only test against New Zealand and Brisbane.

Few critics tipped Bill for a place in the 1957/58 Wallaby side to tour Britain, France and North America, but the selectors thought otherwise and Bill proved to be a very valuable tour member, playing for his country on 15 occasions during the tour. Unfortunately a persistent knee injury prevented him from any chance of a test place during the tour.

Bill was described as an aggressive, sometimes wild, breakaway whose courage was outstanding. He was a raw talent, hardworking and seemingly tireless who revelled in heavy conditions.

Bill Gunther was an Emus team mate of Don Strachan and like Don, was a farmer just out of Orange for all of his adult life.

Bill passed away in a nursing home in Orange in June 2009

Edward John (Eddie) McIntyre

1883 -

Rugby Union International

Affectionately known as 'Daisy' Edward John McIntyre was one of five rugby union players from Orange who toured with the first Wallaby team in 1908. Along with Charles McMurtrie, Eddie was presented with a purse of sovereigns by the citizens of Orange prior to the team's departure for Britain and North America. This gift was often used against the two Orange men, with frequent reference by the English critics of their professionalism.

Edward McIntyre played seven matches for New South Wales, two of which were against Great Britain in 1908. He was highly regarded in rugby circles. He was a powerful front row forward. However, in addition to the criticism handed out by the English critics he was given poor treatment on the Wallaby tour, playing in only 5 five tour matches which drew persistent criticism of the selectors.

Eddie was one of four players who played in five or less fewer matches on tour, while 10 of the players appeared in at least 22 of the 31 matches played. Two Orange players, Ken Gavin and Charles McMurtrie were extremely vocal in their criticism of McIntyre's treatment while on tour.

Writing in the Sydney Mail, Tom Richards, star of the tour, said "in all fairness to the four who played so few games, it must be said that they were steady, kept themselves in good condition and waited patiently and anxiously to be at least given a chance to show their real worth. I am extremely sorry for them. Their behaviour under the circumstances was admirable and worthy of better consideration by the selectors"

On the return of the Wallabies Rugby Union and Kangaroos Rugby League teams from England in 1909 Eddie McIntyre accepted 100 pounds to play in matches between the two teams and so automatically lost his amateur status and then disappeared from football.
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Robert (George) Bouffler

1874 - 1956

Rugby International

Robert George Bouffler was a foundation member of the Orange Waratah Club and his strength and determination saw him represent at Central West New South Wales and Australian level. During his career with the Waratah Club, George Bouffler had a strong association with the legendary Larry Dwyer, with Bouffler guiding the club as coach and then President and Dwyer being Captain of the side.

George Bouffler was selected for New South Wales to play Queensland in 1905, and the same season her was selected as a loose forward for the Australian Test Team to play the British Isles in Sydney.

George was the second son of Robert Bouffler who was one of the pioneer families of the Orange District. His older brother, William was a Mayor of Orange.

During the time that he was coach of the club, three players were selected to represent Australia, Larry Dwyer, Charles McMurtrie and Ken Gavin. George also persuaded the Smith cousins Bede and Mac to play a season with the Waratahs, giving them a record of six international rugby players in a period of five years.

George always retained his association with the Waratah Club until it folded with the coming of League in the 1920s. At first George had no interest in league, often stating that sportsmanship suffered once money became involved. However, he was finally persuaded to join the league executive and at one stage he was the sole selector of league teams in Orange.

His association with the amateur code was renewed when rugby was revived in Orange. He took a particular interest in the Emus Club, of which his grandson Leon Bowyer was a prominent member. Leon represented New South Wales in 1962 and toured New Zealand in the Australian under 17 rugby team in 1984 and continued the line of representative rugby players from George Bouffler's family.

Donald (Don) John Strachan

1929 -

Rugby Union

Donald Strachan was born on 18 February 1929. His early football at Hurlstone Agricultural College saw him as a rugby union prop forward. At school age he was a solid 92kg and revelled in hard work, either as a lock or front row forward. His versatility was displayed when he represented Australia in a match in New Zealand as breakaway. One of his notable captains in CHS Football was the legendary Trevor Allan.

Don returned to the family property in 1947 and was invited to play rugby. Shortly afterwards he and a number of friends formed the Emus Rugby Club. He captained Emus from 1953-1958. He also served as president and coach of Emus and has retained a lifelong association with them.

One of his early representative matches was against the Maoris at Wade Park in 1949 and in 1951 he played against the All Blacks at Parkes. From there he was chosen for an Australian Tour to Ceylon but had to withdraw. Two years later he toured Fiji with the Australian Colts. Between 1949 and 1955 he represented and captained New South Wales Country on many occasions. He toured New Zealand in 1954.

Don's greatest honour came in 1955 when he was chosen for the Wallaby tour of New Zealand where he played in nine of the twelve matches, including the second and third Tests where he partnered Nick Shehadie and Jim Cross in the front row. Don continued to play regularly for New South Wales during 1955 and played one match for the State in 1956 before retiring due to personal and business commitments.

In 1958 Don captained Central West to a memorable win over the Maoris at Wade Park, in a team he described as the greatest country team he had ever been associated with. He helped form the Central West Referees Association and was a first grade referee from 1962 to 1970. In 1990 he was still actively involved in rugby as a selector for the New South Wales Country Under 21 team.

Lancelot Machattie (Mac) Smith

1885 - 1956

Rugby International

Lancelot Machattie Smith was born at Bathurst in 1885 and from early days he became known as 'Mac' Smith, a name that he was known by throughout his life. He represented the All Saints First XV at the age of 13, then continued his education at St Edwards in Oxford, England, where he played in the first XV in 1901 and won an honours Cap.

Returning to Australia he represented the Kings School in 1902 and 1903 and in the season of 1903 he scored a total of 188 points, which remains a school record. During the years at Kings he formed a brilliant three quarter combination with his cousin Bede Smith, with Bede the blockbuster and Mac the speedster.

Both players toured with the first Australian side to visit New Zealand, under the leadership of another Orange player, Stan Wickham, and they played alongside each other in the only test of the tour in atrocious conditions in Dunedin.

'Mac' represented New South Wales on eleven occasions but managed only the one Test, with a brilliant career cut short by an injury that today would only require minor surgery. He was chosen for the first Wallaby tour in 1908 but had to withdraw with a cartilage problem in the final trial match and never played again. This team was to go on to win the Gold Medal at the London Olympics of 1908.

Lance 'Mac' Smith was well known as a breeder of top quality merino sheep and a great lover of horse racing. He was on the committee of the Orange Jockey Club. He also had a great love of children and this found an outlet in his active participation in the scout movement.

Lance 'Mac' Smith of Boree Cabonne died at a private hospital in Orange in March 1956 at the age of 71.

Dr. Walter (Wally) Frederick Matthews

1884 - 1954

Dr Wally Matthews was one of Orange's most respected sporting administrators, having an enormous influence on both cricket and rugby in the district. He was also Mayor of Orange from 1936-1944 and 1948-1950. Wally played rugby for New South Wales in 1906, 1908 and 1910 and was considered unlucky not to gain selection in the Wallaby team of 1908.

At the end of World War I, Wally Matthews was in England and the AIF Sports Control Board joined an inter-services and dominion services competition where 16 matches were played. Wally managed the AIF team and he continued his close association with the game on his return to Australia.

In 1933 he was paid the great honour of being selected as Tour Manager for the Wallabies team to South Africa. This team was generally considered to be the first Australian team to make a tour to a major rugby nation with a truly Australian representation. A notable omission from this side was the great Cyril Towers, it was generally considered that he was omitted because he could not get on with Dr Matthews and found his forthright manner too disruptive.

The team played 23 matches on tour, winning 12, drawing one and losing 10, and caused an upset after early poor form to defeat the Springboks in two tests.

In 1937 the visiting Springboks played in Orange and tour Manager, Percy Day said that on the 1933 tour, Dr Matthews proved to be one of the most popular Australia sportsmen to visit South Africa.

F B (Bede) Smith

1886 - 1954

Rugby International

Bede Smith was a cousin and schoolmate of 'Mac' Smith during their time at school at All Saints in Bathurst and then at Kings School, Parramatta. They developed a wonderful understanding of each others play and formed a great three quarter combination which was to progress onto the International stage.

A powerful, hard running three quarter Bede weighed 81 kg and stood 182 cm stall. He started his representative career with Western Districts before proceeding to New South Wales and then Australian selection.

Bede was persuaded to play with the Waratahs Club in Orange together with his cousin 'Mac' and over this five-year period the Waratah Club was to claim six Internationals. As well as his partnership with 'Mac' Smith he also partnered legendary Dally Messenger in two of his fours tests as a centre.

He was described as a hard running centre with nothing tricky or fancy about his game, but he was a brave and heavy tackler and for him, manliness was a great virtue. He represented New South Wales on eighteen occasions against Great Britain in 1904, Queensland 1905-08, New Zealand 1905-07 and Great Britain again in 1908. Three of his Tests were against New Zealand in 1905 and 1908, and in the Test of 1905 he played alongside his cousin Lance 'Mac' Smith.

Bede toured Britain and North America with the first Wallabies in 1908-1909 and even though he missed selection in the two Tests on tour he won a place in the Australian team for the Olympic Games match in London.

Rugby was a demonstration sport in the 1908 Olympics and the Australian side defeated Cornwall. Each team member received a Gold Medal. Orange was represented with three players in this historic match.

Bede Smith was a grazier, highly respected throughout the Western Districts. He died in Wellington in 1954 at the age of 68.

Stanley (Stan) Montgomery Wickham

1876 - 1960

Rugby Union International

Stanley Montgomery Wickham was born at Lucknow near Orange on 1 January 1876 and learned his early football in district junior teams and represented the Central West. He attended secondary school at Parramatta Marist Brothers, joined Parramatta in 1893 and went on to play 83 first grade matches with the Club. At age 19 he was selected for New South Wales and played 30 matches for his State over 10 seasons.

Stan was appointed captain of the first Australian team to play New Zealand in 1903. He also captained Australia on a seven-match tour of New Zealand in 1905. He played three tests against Great Britain in 1904 and has the dubious distinction of never having played in a winning test side, which is a sad record for a person regarded as one the most exciting ball carriers of his time. He scored 120 points for New South Wales and this remained the record until broken by Cyril Towers with 130 points in 1930.

Stan played a major role in organising the first Wallaby tour to Britain and North America in 1907/08 and his selection as assistant manager of the team was widely applauded. He worked closely with manager James McMahon and Captain Dr Herbert (Paddy) Moran to ensure the success of the tour. On his death in March 1960 many old-timers recalled vividly the excitement of his brilliant running and side stepping displays.

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.

David Codey

1957 -

Rugby International

David Codey was born in Sydney on 7 July1957 and played his early rugby with Manly Juniors. He attended Shore School for four years and then Balgowlah High School before joining Northern suburbs Suburbs where he played his first senior rugby. In 1982 David moved with his family to Orange and he joined the recently formed Orange City Club.

The following year he was selected for his first international match for Australia against Argentina in Brisbane. David had the misfortune to be kicked whilst on the ground and he had to be replaced in the thirty-fourth minute of the match.

David represented New South Wales Country in 1983 -1984 and in the 1984 season he had the distinction of being the only rugby player in history to play for both New South Wales and Queensland in the same season. David played the early part of the 1984 season with New South Wales, then moved to Queensland for the second half of the series where he was selected to represent Queensland.

In 1984 David was selected for the Wallabies Grand Slam tour of the British Isles where he played Tests against England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. In addition to these countries, David represented Australia against Argentina, France and the United States of America for a total of 12 matches.

David played for Australia in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 1987, and at the completion of the World Cup he was chosen as the Australian Captain for the one- off match for the Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand. In the playoffs at the end of the World Cup in 1987-1988 David achieved another distinction by being the first Australian sent off in a test match, when English referee Fred Howard dismissed him for stomping on an opponent in the opening minutes of the match against Wales.

David Codey retired from Rugby in 1988 and caused further controversy when he accompanied Australian captain Andrew Slack to South Africa to try and arrange a rebel tour in defiance of the Australian Rugby Union.

David now lives in Brisbane and enjoys Rugby from the sidelines.

Norman (Norm) Ogilvie Street

1935 - 1977

Rugby International

Norman Ogilvie Street was another product of the mining days at Lucknow, where he represented the village in local matches before progressing to western districts selection. Norm was a teammate of Stan Wickham who also went on to Australian selection. He was small for a front row forward, but his consistent rugged play earned him a place in the New South Wales team at the age of 21 in 1897. He was to continue to represent the State on 18 occasions between 1897 and 1901. On each of his State appearances he was required to make the long and boring trip from Orange to Sydney by train and then return after each match.

His dedication was finally rewarded when he gained a place in the Australian team to play Great Britain in the second test at Brisbane on 22 July 1899. This was only the second tour made by a Great Britain side, and was the first tour in which an official test was played against Australia. Australia lost the match 11 - 0, but reports indicated that Norm had turned in a good performance. In this test only six New South Wales players were selected, and the reason given was it was to save travel costs to Brisbane. However, in the next test, played in Sydney, only three Queenslanders were included in the side. For some inexplicable reason, Norm was dropped from the team, and even though he continued his good form, and represented New South Wales for a further two years.

Norm Street was never again selected for Australia, and finally he dropped out of first class football at the age of 25 and continued his work in the goldfields at Lucknow.

James C Grant

1964 -

Rugby International

James Grant was born in Canowindra on 22 May 1964, and attended Canowindra Central School where he played his early rugby. His secondary schooling was at St. Stanislaus College in Bathurst where he represented the First XV before moving into senior rugby with Orange City Club in 1983.

In his first season with Orange City, James was selected for Central West and New South Wales Country and in 1984/1985 he moved to Kiama for two seasons where he played for Illawarra, New South Wales Country and New South Wales. James moved back to Orange in 1986 and again made the State senior side, and in 1987 he played in the Sydney competition with Gordon but failed to make State selection.

Moving back to Orange in 1988 James hit top form and gained selection for New South Wales and Australia when he was chosen in the National side to play a World XV at Concord.

James was retained in the Australian squad where he was reserve for one Test against England, and then played his first Test at Ballymore. In the series against New Zealand, James was reserve for the first test but then played in the remaining two tests of the series. The flying Centre was then chosen for the Wallaby tour of the UK and Italy where he played in nine of the fifteen matches on tour, and - this included the first test at Twickenham against England.

Many critics felt that the selectors unjustly treated him after being dropped for the remaining tests. There was media speculation on his defecting to rugby league when the Wallaby tour ended. With a degree in Sports Science, James was unable to pursue his career in Orange and could not find suitable employment to allow the time off that was needed to play the amateur code. James was made an excellent offer by the Balmain Rugby League Club and commenced his career in professional football at the beginning of 1989, after having represented New South Wales on 15 occasions and Australia in four tests and one unofficial test.

James moved to England for two years to coach Bradford and he eventually returned to Orange in 2003 and established his own fitness Gymnasium.

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.

Kenneth (Ken) Australia Gavin

1883 - 1956

Rugby Union International

Kenneth Australia Gavin was born at Cudal near Orange, the grandson of Michael Gavin who came to Australia from County Cork in Ireland in the 1930s. His father Mr G Gavin was an early farming pioneer of the farming in the Cudal district. Ken Gavin and his brother Roy were the twelfth and thirteenth children of the family and both learned to play rugby in Cudal. One of their teammates was Lance 'Mac' Smith, another international rugby union player.

When the Gavin Family moved to Orange the boys played with the famous Waratahs Club and both represented the Central West in an historical match at Bathurst that saw the only defeat on tour of the British side. The defeat of the touring side drew the selectors attention to the talent that was available in the Central West, in particular to have a closer look at the Gavin brothers. Ken had previously played for New South Wales in 1906 and 1907 against Queensland and again in 1907 against Western Australia.

Ken Gavin was considered unlucky to miss selection in the 1909 Wallaby touring team, but when two of the team were injured Ken was rushed to England as a replacement and the brawny forward established himself as one of the world's greatest forwards of that era.

Ken missed the Test against Wales, but played in the back row in the First Test against England, which Australia won 9 - 3. On his return, Ken was critical of the selectors and played in the league match between the Wallaby's and the Kangaroos, thus forfeiting his amateur status; he dropped out of first class football.

Ken Gavin was a commercial traveller for many years and was a genial character who became a better-than-average lawn bowls player with the Orange City Bowling Club. He died at his home in Orange at the age of 73.

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