Dominic Vincent Vaughan

Dom Vaughan was a clever, incisive and courageous halfback who partnered with Mark Ella in an important transition year for Australian rugby.

Born in Newcastle, Vaughan initially played rugby league at school and junior levels, but was introduced to rugby at the Newcastle Waratahs’ Club by the great Cyril Burke. Vaughan represented Newcastle from U12s to U16s and was selected in the Australian U16s team, coached by Randwick legend Jeff Sayle, which toured New Zealand in 1977.

Vaughan attended Hamilton Marist Brothers, Newcastle and from there won selection on the champion 1977/78 Australian Schools’ team tour to Japan, Europe and the U.K. It is arguable that there has never been a better schoolboy backline than the one Australia fielded against Wales on that tour - 9. Vaughan; 10. Mark Ella; 11. Michael O’Connor; 12. Tony Melrose; 13. Gary Ella; 14. Michael Hawker; and 15. Glen Ella. Vaughan went on to represent at aged level, was captain of the 1980 Australian U21s on their tour to New Zealand and two years later toured there with the Wallabies.

In 1983, just ten days after he debuted for Sydney and before he had played a single match for New South Wales, Vaughan made his Test debut against the U.S.A. in Sydney. Vaughan played well and earned a start against Argentina in Brisbane however a tough day behind a back-peddling scrum was made worse when he left the field with concussion following excessive attention from opposition flankers Tomas Petersen and Ernesto Ure. The end-of-season tour to Italy and France was his last in Wallaby gold before Nick Farr-Jones emerged to dominate the No.9 jersey for a decade.

Dominic Vaughan played five Tests for Australia in a one-year international career.

Highlights

1977/78

Represented Australian Schools against Ireland Schools, Wales Schools and England Schools.

1980

Captained Australian U21s on their tour of New Zealand.

1983

Vaughan won his first Test cap as the starting halfback alongside Mark Ella in the 49-3 victory over the U.S.A. in Sydney. He maintained his spot three weeks later for the 1st Test 3-18 loss to Argentina in Brisbane. Unfortunately the concussion he sustained in that match saw him ruled out of the second Test and his place was taken by Tony Parker. Vaughan returned for the end-of-season tour to Italy and France where he played in all three Tests - Italy and France (2) - in combination with Ella.