Boyd Davies Oxlade

Boyd Oxlade and his father Allan ‘Butcher’ Oxlade were just the second father/son combination to become Test capped Wallabies.

A tireless, punishing flanker, Allan was educated at Churchie, a.k.a. the Church of England Grammar School, in Brisbane. He emerged as a ‘promising forward colt’ with ‘enough courage for two footballers’ for the Eagle Junction club in 1934 and went on to play a key role in their hat-trick of premierships from 1935-37. In the middle year of that run he 'seized the opportunity presented to him' in the inter-city matches and combined with his 'consistency this season’ won a state debut against New South Wales.

In 1937 he ran fullback Len Walker very close for second place in the list of that season’s star players. Only 21, he was chosen as reserve forward for the second Test against the touring Springboks and was viewed as a near certainty to become the first Eagle Junction man to gain national honours. Oxlade switched to the GPS club in 1938 where he maintained his good form and then, in a remarkable coincidence, made his Test debut against New Zealand 34 years to the day that his father ran out for his first Test against the 1904 British Lions.

Oxlade junior 'did not yield an inch’ during the three Test series and only 'enhanced his prospects' of selection in the team to tour Great Britain a year later. Australian coach Johnnie Wallace went as far as to say that Oxlade was among the year's most improved players. The following year he duly won selection on the Second Wallabies tour to the U.K. When asked his reply to the tour invitation Oxlade replied, “Will I accept? That’s like asking a man if he’d like to win the lottery.” Unfortunately, no sooner had the team reached Britain than war was declared. The day after the Wallabies returned to Brisbane, Oxlade enlisted in the RAAF as an Aircraftsman (first-class).

Boyd Oxlade played three Tests for Australia in a one-year international career.

Highlights

1938

Oxlade won his first Test cap at flanker in a back-row combination with Aub Hodgson and Fred Kerr, in the 1st Test, 9-24 loss to New Zealand at the S.C.G. Hodgson moved to No.8 and ‘Cracker’ McDonald came in on the side to join Oxlade for the final two Tests of the series.