David John Lyons

David Lyons was a barnstorming backrow forward who enjoyed a meteoric rise, albeit without fanfare or publicity, to national honours. Two days after his 20th birthday, and with just five provincial games and one grade level club game in his CV, Lyons played his first Test for Australia. An explosive ball-runner, Lyons only took to rugby on the advice of friends as a 16-year-old at Hurlstone Agricultural College.

In 1996, his first year of rugby, he made the New South Wales Country U16s.

In 1997 and again in 1998, this time as captain, he was selected for Australian Schools.

In 1999, Lyons moved to Wesley College at the University of Sydney and was signed by the Waratah Development Academy for elite, young players. The following year he made his New South Wales debut against the Stormers at Newlands and less than four months later won his first Test cap against Argentina in Brisbane. Following Toutai Kefu’s decision to leave Australia after the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Lyons found a more permanent place in the Wallaby squad before injuries began to take their toll.

He attended two Rugby World Cups and in 2004 won the John Eales Medal as Australian Player of the Year. David Lyons played 44 Tests for Australia over his eight year international career.

Highlights

1997

Represented Australian Schools against New Zealand Schools

1998/99

 Represented Australian Schools against New Zealand Schools and then captained the team on their tour of Canada and Europe.

1999

 Represented Australian U19s.

2000

Lyons won his first Test cap off the bench when he first substituted David Giffin and then replaced Matt Cockbain in the 1st Test, 53-6 defeat of Argentina in Brisbane. One week later he picked up a second cap in the 2nd Test 32-25 win against Argentina in Canberra.

2001

He earned a further two caps, both off the bench, against the British & Irish Lions in Brisbane and South Africa in Pretoria.

2002

Lyons played in the opening six Tests of the year before a hip flexor injury saw him miss selection for the Spring Tour internationals. He made his run-on XV debut at No.8 in the 31-25, 2nd Test victory over France in Sydney.

2003

Lyons started the opening four and closing seven Tests of the year but missed three of the four Tri-Nations internationals. He scored his first Test try against Namibia in Adelaide.

2004

Lyons played all 12 Wallaby Tests, ten as the starting No.8, and won the John Eales Medal as Australian Player of the Year

2005

He was capped in eight of the opening nine Tests before groin and back injuries forced him out of both the 2nd Test against New Zealand and the Spring Tour.

2006

An extended recovery from his groin and back injuries restricted Lyons to a single cap, the 44-15 win over Scotland at Murrayfield.

2007

Lyons won his final three Test caps and was selected to his second Rugby World Cup.