Hugh Carlyle Taylor

‘Lyle’ Taylor enjoyed a brief foray in representative rugby before the uncertain economic times of the mid-1920s saw him retire to concentrate on a career in medicine.

Described as “a splendid forward and excellent leader. Good in all departments of the game equally strong in attack and defence”, Taylor entered The Scots College late in 1915 where he became something of an all-round superstar. “A lad of sterling character, most loyal to the school in all its interests, and endowed with powers of leadership found in very few” Taylor was Captain of the Boats (1917-19), a member of the 1st XI (1916 & 1919), and twice captain of the 1st XV (1917-18) - a team in which he played for four years (1916-19). Taylor was also chosen for the All Schools’ 1st XV (1917-19), the first year of those selections in a season during which Scots went 0-1-5 and failed to score a point in any of the first five fixtures. Finally, Taylor was Scots’ Head Prefect for three successive years (1917-19), a position that no other boy has ever held for more than a year.

Following his graduation Taylor enrolled to study Medicine at the University of Sydney where he continued to row - he competed in the 1922 Intervarsity Eight Oar Championship - and play rugby. Taylor broke into representative football in 1923, firstly with selection for University against New Zealand Universities and then for ‘United’ / Australian Universities against New South Wales. He was then chosen for TSR Davis’ team in the curtain raiser to the first ‘Test’ between the Waratahs and the Maori. Taylor’s performance that day was enough to have his name included in the 25-man New South Wales squad for the final two Tests of that series. While he didn’t play in either fixture, Taylor did run on for Metropolitan when they held the visitors to a 16-16 draw at Manly Oval in the final match of the trip.

New South Wales soon embarked on their own tour of the Dominion however the selection of the touring party was thrown into disarray when 11 players were unavailable to take part. Although he would be initially detained at home to complete his examinations, Taylor - “Varsity’s best forward” - was one of seven University players named in the squad. Once he joined the tour, Taylor was immediately thrown in the deep end with selection for the first ‘Test’. Although he did not know it at the time that match was also Taylor’s official Test debut after an ARU decision in 1994 elevated the remaining 34 New South Wales matches played against international opposition in the 1920-28 period to Test status (the five 1927/28 Waratahs’ internationals were given Test status in 1986).

When the All Blacks came to Australia in 1924, Taylor was again included in the state squad however John Bonner and Charlie Fox were the preferred locking pair for each of the first two internationals. Taylor came into the side for Bonner in the third and final ‘Test’ however the loss of halfback and captain ‘Wakka’ Walker weighed heavily, and the visitors put on an exhibition to win 38-8.

Taylor’s rugby career came to a close after he graduated in 1926 with both a Bachelor of Medicine and a Master of Surgery.

‘Lyle’ Taylor played four Tests for Australia in a two-year international career.

Highlights

1923

Taylor won his first cap at lock, partnering Bill Marrott, in the 9-19 1st Test loss to New Zealand at Carisbrook. He was also capped in the two final Tests of the series, at Christchurch and then Wellington.

1924

His fourth and final cap came in the 8-38, 3rd Test loss to New Zealand at the RAS Ground in Sydney.