Alister Forrest McClelland Boyd

Alister Boyd was an extremely talented sportsman whose representative career coincided with those of two great Wallaby fullbacks, Terry Curley and Jim Lenehan.

Born in the central west Queensland town of Longreach, Boyd was educated at The Southport School where he started as an athlete. Boyd played five years in both the 1st XV and the 1st XI (1950-1954). He twice represented Combined GPS in both sports (1952-53).

Boyd played his club rugby with GPS and although his preferred position was fullback he also started on the wing and in the centres. In 1958, Boyd made his representative debuted on the right wing for Queensland against New South Wales and then started at fullback in the Maroons’ 12-24 loss to the touring Maori. The very next day Ken Donald withdrew from the 1st Test due an injured thigh muscle and Boyd, described as ‘one of Queensland’s best backs against the Maori’ was called in to make his debut in Brisbane.

Australia prevailed 15-14 thanks to a last minute penalty goal by Jim Lenehan however coach Bill McLaughlin was not satisfied with the team’s form and he felt that the main fault was a ‘lack of momentum in the backline.’ As a consequence the Australian selectors made eight changes, three of which were in the three-quarters and one of which was Boyd - for the 2nd Test in Sydney. Curley and Lenehan then dominated the fullback role through to the end of the 1959 series against the British Lions.

Alister Boyd played one Test for Australia and will forever be Wallaby #439.

Highlights

1958
Boyd won his first Test cap on the left wing in the 1st Test, 15-14 victory over the Maori at the Exhibition Ground.