Allan Edward Livermore

Allan Livermore was a tireless loose forward and brilliant goal kicker who rose to national honours when rugby international rugby resumed after World War II.

Born in Brisbane and educated at New Farm State High School, Livermore played his early club rugby with New Farm and then YMCA where his play saw him referred to as ‘the mighty atom’.

He had a remarkable 1939, particularly with his goal-kicking, and went within a whisker of passing 1933 uncapped Wallaby Bernie Doneley’s all-time single season record of 184 points. When combined with his strong general play it was no surprise that Livermore won a place in one of the strongest Queensland forward packs to have worn the maroon jersey since the revival of the code in 1920. He then joined the Army and rose to the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two, 2nd Echelon, 2nd Australian Imperial Force.

In 1946 Livermore broke Doneley’s record with 193 points and earned selection for The Rest v. Australia XV trial ahead of the tour to New Zealand. He scored nine points in the Rest’s come from behind 30-22 win and earned a spot in the touring party. When two of the other three flankers on tour - Bill McLean and Keith Windon - succumbed to early injuries, Livermore won a Test debut in Dunedin. He held his place for the Maori match (one that was not elevated to Test status until 1986) before McLean returned in Auckland.

A year later Livermore stood down from Queensland selection as his job would not allow him to tour, if selected, with Third Wallabies to the U.K. and Europe at the end of the year. He considered it was his duty to make himself unavailable rather than keep another forward out of the Australian team. Livermore played for Queensland against the Wallabies and Newcastle in 1948 before he retired at the end of that season.

Allan Livermore played two Tests for Australia in a one-year international career.

Highlights

1946

Livermore won his first Test cap at flanker in combination with Col Windon and Arthur Buchan in the 1st Test, 8-31 loss to New Zealand at Carisbrook. That backrow was retained for the 0-20 loss to the Maori in Hamilton.