Alan James Skinner

Alan Skinner was a tall and rangy No.8 / lock forward who enjoyed a brief career in Wallaby gold during the late 1960s.

Born in Sydney and schooled at Sydney Boys High School, Skinner played his first club rugby with Drummoyne before a switch to Eastwood.

His first appearance at representative level came in 1967 when selected to play No.8 for Sydney against Ireland, a match the home side won by a stunning 30-8. The following year he was chosen for his first Wallaby tour, to Scotland and Ireland, although he did not play in either of the Tests.

In 1969 incumbent Wallaby No.8 David Taylor suffered a serious neck injury when he played for Queensland against Victoria. When the national team was chosen several weeks later for the one-off Test against Wales in Sydney, Skinner came in to make his Test debut. Later that season he toured South Africa, played 13 of the Wallabies’ 26 matches, and was capped in the final Test. When he returned to Australia, Skinner shifted to Queensland, settled in Townsville, and debuted for his new state against New South Wales. A strong performance in the Maroons’ victory over Scotland, their first against a touring side since 1899, earned Skinner the odd distinction of being the sole Queenslander chosen in the Test team.

He retired from representative rugby at the end of 1971 with three Test caps in a two-year international career.

Highlights

1969

Skinner won his first Test cap at No.8 in the 16-19 loss to Wales at the S.C.G. He earned a second cap at lock in partnership with Peter Reilly in the 4th Test, 8-19 loss to South Africa in Bloemfontein.

1970

Skinner and Owen Butler combined in the middle row for the 23-3 victory over Scotland at the S.C.G.