Hugh Alexander Rose

Hugh Rose was a tall, strong, country boy with impressive stamina who became a core member of the Wallabies during the late 1960s. Born at Walcha, Rose played Australian Rules for Finley, however he converted to rugby and found a home in the back-row when he moved to board at The King’s School in Sydney. Rose played three seasons in the 1st XV (1962-64) and represented the GPS 1st XV in each of his final two years. After school Rose played his club rugby for Robb College in Armidale and made his first representative team, New South Wales Country, aged just 18.

In 1966 he made his debut for New South Wales against Queensland at Chatswood Oval but was not selected for the Fifth Wallabies tour to Britain at the end of the year. The following year Rose played strongly whenNew South Wales defeated Ireland 21-9 to earn a Test debut in Sydney. The IrishIndependent noted that “the young wing forward Hugh Ross had a reasonably promising first Test”.

From that debut Rose played 13 consecutive internationals through to the end of the 1970 season and toured to New Zealand in 1967, Ireland and Scotland in 1968, and South Africa in 1969. The emergence of Bob McLean, Peter Sullivan, Dick Cocks, Mark Loane and Tony Shaw from 1971 onward saw Rose overlooked for further representative honours. Hugh Rose played 13 Tests for Australia in a four-year international career.

Highlights

1967

Rose won his first Test cap on the flank alongside Greg Davis and John O’Gorman in the 5-11 loss to Ireland at the S.C.G. He earned his second cap at No.8 with David and debutant Jeff Sayle in the 9-29 defeat to New Zealand at Athletic Park.

1968

Rose, Davis and David Taylor formed the back row in all five Tests against New Zealand (2), France, Ireland and Scotland.

1969

He played in all five internationals, as a flanker against Wales and at No.8 in each of the four Tests against South Africa.

1970

In the only Test of the year Rose, Davis and Barry McDonald combined in back-row for the 23-3 victory over Scotland at the S.C.G.