In 1908, an excited crowd gathered on the wharf at Sydney’s Circular Quay.
They were there to farewell members of the first Australian Rugby Union team to embark on a tour of Britain, France and America. After a formal farewell at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the players boarded the R.M.S Omrah for the six-week trip, which would take them to England via Ceylon and Naples.
They wore the sky blue jersey of New South Wales
The jerseys were adorned with an embroidered Waratah on the breast and "Australia" underneath, to indicate that this was a national representative side. With no official national colours, this jersey was worn as the tour was organised by the the New South Wales Rugby Union. Players also sported navy blue blazers and boater hats, all with the Waratah emblem.
Boater Hatband (1908)Rugby Australia
Arrival at Plymouth
Greeted by a crowd on arrival, the Australians had a busy start to the tour. Attending a welcome dinner that evening, they departed the next day for Newtown Abbott to prepare for their first match against Devon.
Wallabies on arrival (1908)Rugby Australia
We are the Wallabies
Captain Herbert Moran, learning that the British press had taken to calling the team the "Rabbits’,’ which he found distasteful, decided to find a more acceptable name. Many suggestions were put forward but after a team vote, the name Wallabies was selected.
The 'Rabbits' arrive (1908)Rugby Australia
Birth of the Wallabies (1908) by Daily MailRugby Australia
Australian Amateur Rugby Team 'The Wallabies' (1908) by Davidson BrothersRugby Australia
A gruelling tour awaited them
Thirty-five tour matches were scheduled with three Tests, one each against Wales, France and England. The French Test, however, would be cancelled due to bad weather.
Australia - 24
Devon - 3
Opening match - Devon (1908)Rugby Australia
Australia - 16
Gloucestershire - 0
Official Programme Cornwall v Australians (1908) by Cornwall Rugby Footbal UnionRugby Australia
Australia - 18
Cornwall - 5
Australia - 16
Glamorgan - 3
Australia - 11
Penygraig - 3
Australia - 15
Neath and Aberavon - 0
Australia - 3
Llanelly - 8
Match cancelled due to waterlogged pitch
Wallabies v London (1908)Rugby Australia
Australia - 3
London - 0
Dinner Invitation: London Rugby Football Union Dinner Invitation: London Rugby Football Union (1908) by London RFURugby Australia
Australia - 8
Navy & Army - 6
Australia - 29
Durham - 7
Australians and Durham (1908) by Durham RFCRugby Australia
Australia - 18
Cumberland & Northumberland - 6
Official Programme Australia v Cheshire (1908) by P. BranscombeRugby Australia
Australia - 37
Cheshire - 3
Australia - 9
England - 3
Australia defeat England at Blackheath (1909) by Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic newsRugby Australia
Australia - 11
Cambridge University - 9
Australia - 24
Yorkshire - 0
Australia - 12
Lancashire - 6
Australia - 12
Somerset - 6
Australia - 5
Combined Midlands - 16
Australia - 24
Anglo-Welsh - 0
Australia - 6
Wales - 9
Australia v Wales (1908) by Welsh Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Snow on Cardiff Arms Park (1908) by Welsh Rugby Football UnionRugby Australia
Australia - 9
Glamorgan League - 5
Australia - 5
Newport - 3
Australia - 3
Abertillery - 3
Australia - 0
Swansea - 6
Australia - 8
Cardiff - 24
Australia - 11
Bristol & Clifton - 3
Australia - 15
Plymouth - 6
No matches were played in Ireland and Scotland
Due to an ongoing dispute around amateurism, these Unions objected to the three shillings daily allowance given to each player and extended no invitations to the Wallabies.
Wallaby war-cry
Following the success of the Haka the year before, the Wallabies were also expected to perform a war-cry. Using 'a native greeting to strangers in peace', the Wallabies performed their war-cry before most matches and on many social occasions.
Wallaby war-cry translation (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Wallabies war-cry (1908)Rugby Australia
Olympic champions
Invited to take part in the Olympic Games currently being held in London, the Wallabies went straight into the final. In their most convincing win of the tour they defeated the United Kingdom, represented by Cornwall, to become Olympic gold medalists.
Olympic Games Rugby Match (1908)Rugby Australia
Olympic Games teams - Australia and Cornwall (1908)Rugby Australia
Olympic competitor's ticket (1908)Rugby Australia
Record crowds
The Wallabies drew record crowds throughout the tour and their progress was followed closely by the Australian press as well as the press in England and Wales.
America
Arriving in San Francisco, the Wallabies were scheduled to play three matches before traveling to British Colombia in Canada for their last two matches. Sailing home via Hawaii, the Wallabies arrived home in March after a very long and successful nine-month tour.
The first Wallabies
From thirty-five matches played, the Wallabies lost only five and drew in one, scoring a total of 620 points compared to their combined opposition’s 159. The team had established a reputation that saw Australian rugby respected the world over and defined what it meant to be Australian. The name ‘Wallabies’ became synonymous with a brand of open, running rugby, good sportsmanship and the best traditions of the game.
John Barnett, Cap No.73 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played thirty-four tour matches including the two Tests against Wales and England and Olympic Games final. A prop-forward, his club was Newtown.
Albert Burge - Cap No.92 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in eleven tour matches including one Test against Wales. Sent off in the match against Cardiff, he was not selected again on tour. A flanker, his club was South Sydney.
Peter Burge, Cap No.74 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Broke his leg in the first match of the tour against Devon. One of the replacements sent over was his brother Albert. A lock and club was South Sydney
Philip Carmichael, Cap No.52 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in thirty-two tour matches including both Tests and the Olympic Games final. A full-back, his clubs were South Brisbane, Christian Brothers and Valley Football clubs in Queensland.
Played in twenty-one tour matches, including both Test matches against Wales and England, and the Olympic Games final. A winger, his club was St. George.
Robert Craig, Cap No.94 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in eleven tour matches, including the Test against Wales and the Olympic Games final. The tours chief prankster, he was a flanker from the Balmain club.
Herbert Daly, Uncapped (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in only four tour matches. A centre, he played for Mudgee-Gulgong Football Club and Combined Country.
William Dix, Cap No.75 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in nineteen tour matches, including one Test against England. A full-back, he was a from Armidale and his club was Southward.
Peter Flanagan, Cap No.76 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Volunteering as line-umpire in the third match against Cornwall, he collided with the Australian winger and broke his leg. A flanker, his club was Brothers.
Injured Wallabies (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Peter Burge broke his leg during the opening match of the tour against Devon, while Flanagan broke his leg in the third match against Cornwall
Kenneth Gavin, Cap No.100 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in twelve tour matches including one Test against England. A back-row forward, his club was Brothers. Gained selection after injuries to Burge and Flanagan
Thomas Griffin, Cap No.77 (1908) by New South Wales Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in twenty-two tour matches, including one Test against Wales and in the Olympic games final. Popular on tour due to his fine voice, he was a hooker and his club was Glebe.
Charles Hammand, Cap No.95 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in twenty-five tour matches including the two Test against Wales and England. A hooker and prop-forward from Sydney University, he missed his examinations to go on the tour.
John Hickey, Cap No.96 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in twenty-nine tour matches, including the two Tests against Wales and England and the Olympic Games final. A centre, his club was Glebe.
Edward Mandible, Cap No.89 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in eleven tour matches, including the Test against Wales. A leg injury coupled with heavy grounds had a severe impact on his success during the tour. A fly-half, his club was Eastern Suburbs.
Malcolm McArthur, Cap No.101 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played twenty-one tour matches, including the Test against England and in the Olympic Games final, taking injured captain Moran's place in the team. A flanker, his club was Eastern Suburbs.
Arthur McCabe, Cap No. 102 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played sixteen tour matches, including one Test against England and in the Olympic Games final. A fly-half, his club was South Sydney
Patrick McCue, Cap No.78 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in thirty tour matches, including both Tests against Wales and England and in the Olympic Games final. A lock, his was a member of the Newtown Club
Edward McIntyre, Uncapped (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Playing in only four tour matches, he left the tour in England and did not travel to America. A prop, his club was Orange.
Christopher McKivat, Cap No.80 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in thirty-two tour matches, including both Test matches and the Olympic Games final. He captained the team on twelve occasions including the Olympic final. A half-back, his club was Glebe
James McMahon, Team Manager (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
An Officer in the New South Wales (NSW) Lancers, McMahon had played twenty-four matches for NSW, was Vice-President of the NSW Rugby Union and a member of the selection committee for the 1908 tour
Charles McMurtrie, Uncapped (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played thirteen tour matches including the Olympic Games final. A flanker from Orange, his club was Waratahs (Orange)
Sydney Middleton, Cap No.103 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played thirty tour matches including one Test against England. One of the stars of the tour, he would captain Australia in three Tests in 1910. A Flanker, his club was Glebe
Herbert Moran, Cap No.97 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Team Captain, Moran played in sixteen tour matches including one Test against Wales. He remained in England to continue his medical studies. A breakaway, clubs were Sydney University and Newcastle
Cecil Murnin, Uncapped (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
After becoming ill on board the ship, Murnin returned to Australia from Naples. A lock, his club was Eastern Suburbs
Charles Parkinson, Cap No.91 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in seven tour matches but injuries restricted his match time. A winger, his clubs were Past Grammars (Brisbane) and Harlin
Warden Prentice, Cap No.98 (1908) by New South Wales Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in thirteen tour matches including one Test against England, although limited by a knee-injury. A fly-half, his club was Western Suburbs
Thomas Richards, Cap No.99 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in twenty-eight tour matches, including the two Test matches and the Olympic Games final. A flanker, he played for Charters Towers.
Norman Edward Row, Cap No.82 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played twenty-three tour matches including the Test against England. A flanker, his club was Eastern Suburbs.
Charles Russell, Cap No.83 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in twenty-nine tour matches including the two Tests against Wales and England, and the Olympic Games final. A winger, he was captain of the Newtown team
Francis Bede Smith, Cap No.70 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in twelve tour matches including the Olympic Games final. A centre, he was from country New South Wales and his clubs were Wellington (NSW) and Waratahs (Orange)
Joseph Stevenson, Uncapped (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Played in only one tour match against Penycraig where he was severely injured and took no further part in the tour. A half-back, he played for Newcastle
Stanley Wickham, Assistant Manager (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Wickham had played five Tests for Australia, four as Captain. An accomplished coach, a strong public campaign led to his inclusion on the tour.
His club was Western Suburbs
Frederick Wood, Cap No.85 (1908) by NSW Rugby UnionRugby Australia
Vice-captain, Woods played in nineteen tour matches, five as captain. A scrum-half, his club was Glebe
Rugby Australia Archives
Debra Crowe
Teejar Haar
Steve Johnson
Sharpham, Peter - The first Wallabies
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