David Greirson Carter

David Carter was a fast and hardened back-rower who earned his spurs in country rugby well before he achieved national honours. Born in Quirindi, Carter was educated at The Scots College in Sydney’s east where he learned the fundamentals of the game. During the mid-to-late 1980s Carter held a near permanent spot for NSW Country against touring international sides and he was captain in the 1985 victory over Canada as well as the 1986 defeat of Italy. However, it was not until 1987 that Carter earned a debut for New South Wales, against Queensland at Concord.

A year later, and despite somewhat remarkably not winning selection for either NSW or NSW ‘B’, Carter made his Test debut against England in Brisbane. Later that same season Carter was in the Australian side that was humbled 7-32 by New Zealand yet he remained one of just four players who were selected for all three Tests of the series. He toured with the Wallabies to the U.K. and Europe at the end of the year, although Scott Gourley and Jeff Miller were preferred for the internationals, and a year later played his final two Tests in the away series against France. When his son Sam (Wallaby #879) debuted in 2014 the Carters became the 10th father/son pairing to play Test rugby for Australia.

Highlights

1988

Carter won his first Test cap at No.8 in the 1st Test, 22-16 victory over England in Sydney and held his spot two weeks later for the second Test in Brisbane. Carter was again picked at No.8 for the first Test against New Zealand however a heavy loss (7-32) triggered four changes, including Steve Tuynman for Carter, for the second Test in Brisbane

1989

Carter earned his final two Test caps as the starting blindside flanker in partnership with Brendan Nasser and Tim Gavin against France in Strasbourg and Lille.