Brendan Joseph Moon

Brendan Moon was one of the great Wallaby wingers. He was a complete footballer who ran with a classical, silken grace that was acclaimed throughout the rugby world. Strongly built, he was also a crushing defender, had a magnificent swerve to the outside and possessed a fine boot. Finally, Moon was a great finisher and for a time he held the Australian all-time try scoring record.

Born in Melbourne, Moon was educated at Brisbane’s Marist Brothers, Ashgrove and from there played for Australian Schools.

After graduation he eventually found a home at the Brothers’ club and quickly became a star centre for the U19s. His play was so brilliant, and despite not having played any grade football, the Queensland selectors had no hesitation in choosing him for the Queensland tour to Japan and North America in March of 1978. Incredibly, just a few months later, Moon was on tour with the Wallabies in New Zealand and made his Test debut in Christchurch.

In 1980 Moon played in one of the great Wallaby backlines, outside Mark Ella, Michael Hawker and Michael O’Connor. He was simply superb in the second Test loss to New Zealand at Ballymore as a lightning thrust from the left wing to take a short pass from Hawker saw him touch down under the posts.

Moon proved his world class on the 1981/82 tour to Britain when he scored an audacious try against Scotland. After Australia were awarded a penalty, Paul McLean strolled up to the mark. McLean noted that the Scots were in wait for an inevitable shot at goal, so he nonchalantly dropped a kick to the left wing for Moon to accept unopposed, trot over and score the try. Moon also starred in the loss to England with two splendidly taken tries.

Moon was a walk-up starter for the Eighth Wallabies tour to Britain before disaster struck in the Test against England when he broke his right forearm. Moon returned to the Wallabies in 1986 but again made himself unavailable for the tour to New Zealand and missed the Bledisloe Cup series victory. In 1987 Moon began the season in sparkling form with the goal to play in the inaugural Rugby World Cup before he broke his foot in a training drill with the Maroons robbed him of that opportunity.

Brendan Moon played 35 Tests for Australia in a nine-year international career. In 2022, Moon was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia “for significant service to public administration, and to rugby union.”

Highlights

1976 Represented Australian Schools against Sydney Colts.

1977 The Wallabies did not play a Test match in 1977.

1978 Moon won his 1st Test cap on the left wing in the 2nd Test, 6-22 loss to New Zealand at Lancaster Park. He retained his spot in the 3rd Test, 30-16 victory at Eden Park.

1979 Moon started on the left wing in all five Wallaby Tests, against Ireland (2), New Zealand (1) and Argentina (2).

1980 Moon played No.11 in all four Tests, the first three - Fiji (1) and New Zealand (2) with Mick Martin on the right wing and with Peter Grigg in the 3rd Test, 26-10 defeat of New Zealand in Sydney.

1981 Represented Australia at the Hong Kong 7s.

1981/82 He was capped in both home Tests against France and won selection for the Seventh Wallabies tour to Britain where he played on the left wing in all four internationals.

1982 Moon earned two caps in the home series against Scotland but joined eight Queenslanders and Gary Pearse in making himself unavailable for the tour to New Zealand. Represented Australia at the Hong Kong 7s.

1983 Moon started in all seven Tests. In the 29-7 win over Italy in Rovigo, Moon scored his 12th Test try to break the 31-year old Australian record held by legendary flanker Col Windon. Represented Australia at the Hong Kong 7s.

1984 He won caps against Fiji (1) and New Zealand (3) before he broke his right forearm against England at Twickenham. Represented Australia at the Hong Kong 7s.

1986 Moon picked up his final four caps against Italy (1), France (1) and Argentina (2) but made himself unavailable for the Bledisloe Cup-winning tour of New Zealand. Represented Australia at the Hong Kong 7s.