Dominic John Maguire

Dominic Maguire was a compact, strong tackling centre who possessed a wide range of polished skills. He played in one of the most highly anticipated home series of the modern era, the 1989 tour of Australia by the British Lions, before Tim Horan and Jason Little emerged to dominate the Wallaby midfield for a decade. Born in Brisbane, Maguire attended Padua College and played his club rugby for Brothers’.

In April of 1989 he debuted for Queensland against Canterbury at Ballymore. Two strong performances, particularly in defence, at No.12 for Australia ‘B’ and then for the Maroons against the Lions pushed his name into the national frame. With the Wallaby selectors concerned about how they would counter the attacking forays of brilliant Scottish fullback Gavin Hastings, Maguire was picked to make his debut in the 1st Test in Sydney. While Australia enjoyed a brilliant 30-12 victory they ultimately lost the series 1-2. As a consequence the selectors made sweeping changes for the one-off Test against New Zealand and a 19 year-old Tim Horan replaced Maguire. The rest, as they say, is history.

Highlights

1989

Maguire won his first Test cap as the starting outside centre alongside Lloyd Walker in the 1st Test, 30-12 victory over the British Lions in Sydney. He scored his first Test try to become the 66th Wallaby to score a try on debut. Maguire held his spot for the final two Tests of that series.