David Norman Croft

David Croft was a tireless, hard-working flanker in the Simon Poidevin-mould who would have played many more than his five Tests had it not been for the presence of two future Wallaby captains George Smith and Phil Waugh.

Born and bred in Brisbane, Croft first played rugby for Souths juniors. At age 15 he was encouraged to forgo a career in the backline and follow in his father’s footsteps as a flanker. Croft attended St. Joseph's Christian Brother's College, Gregory Terrace where he played one season in the 1st XV.

After graduation Croft played for Brothers and was then invited to join the Reds Rugby Academy in 1997. From there he captained the World Championship winning Australian U19 team that included his future nemeses Waugh and Smith. Croft debuted for Queensland in 2000 against Argentina at Ballymore and a year later he won the Australian Super 12 Rookie of the Year.

In 2002, Croft was picked in the Wallaby squad for the end-of-season Spring Tour and made his Test debut against Argentina in Buenos Aires. The following year he was selected to his first Rugby World Cup where he played the last of his five career Tests.

Highlights

1998

Represented Australian U19s.

1999/2000

Represented Australia in the IRB Sevens World Series.

1999

Represented Australian U21s

2000

Selected in the Australian Under 21 team alongside Phil Waugh and George Smith.

2002

Croft won his first Test cap off the bench when he substituted and ultimately replaced Matt Cockbain at blindside flanker in 17-6 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires. He won three more replacement caps on the Spring Tour against Ireland, England and Italy.

2003

Croft picked up his fifth and final career Test cap when he started for the first time, at openside flanker, in the 142-0 pool game win against Namibia in Adelaide.