Douglas Hugh Osborne

Doug Osborne was a pacy, strong running New Zealand winger who emigrated to Victoria and wound up a Wallaby.

Born in Thames and educated at Waihi College, Osborne represented Waikato before he moved to Australia and linked up with the Kiwis Club in Melbourne.

In 1974 he appeared on the left wing for Victoria against the touring All Blacks and a year later was invited to play, in what was essentially a Wallaby trial, for The Rest against an Australian XV at the Sydney Sports Ground. Osborne was ‘the find’ of that match. He showed great pace in a 30 metre burst to score the last try of the first half and then saved two near-certain Australian tries. Firstly, he dragged down rival winger Laurie Monaghan when in full flight just short of the tryline and then he intercepted an overhead pass from Geoff Shaw with the line wide open. That performance was good enough to win Osborne a Test debut at the S.C.G.

Highlights

1975

Osborne won his first Test cap on the left wing in the 1st Test, 16-9 victory over England in Sydney. He retained his spot in the 30-21, 2nd Test win in Brisbane. When Laurie Monaghan withdrew after he failed a fitness test on his injured knee, Osborne earned a third cap and scored his one Test try in the 1st Test, 37-7 defeat of Japan at the S.C.G.