Justin Brendan Gregory Harrison
- 50Age
- 34Caps
- 770Wallaby Number
PositionLock
Date Of BirthApril 20, 1974
Place of BirthSydney
SchoolNewman High School, Greystanes, NSW
Debut ClubCanberra Vikings
ProvinceACT
Other ClubTuggeranong (ACT), Eastwood, Ulster (IRE), Bath (ENG)
Other ProvinceNSW
Debut Test Match2001 Wallabies v British & Irish Lions, 3rd Test Sydney
Final Test Match2004 Wallabies v England, London
Rugby World Cups2003
Biography
Justin Harrison will forever be remembered for one piece of individual brilliance that ultimately allowed the Wallabies to defeat the might of the British & Irish Lions in 2001. A combative, hard-nosed and mobile lock who specialised in lineout play, Harrison trod a very non-traditional path to become a Wallaby. He was educated in the public system at Newman High School in western Sydney and did not represent Australia at schoolboy level. Harrison did earn a spot in the Australian U21s before he found himself on a rugby tour of Fiji with the Australian Army. He joined the Tuggeranong Vikings, was a foundation member of the ACT Brumbies’ inaugural squad in 1996 and started in their 2001 final victory over the Natal Sharks. Harrison then received his big break when he played for Australia ‘A’ in their 28-25 upset of the British Lions 28-25. With the Test series against the Lions tied one-all Harrison was chosen for his debut in the deciding Sydney match. In the 78th minute, and with the Lions just ten metres out from the Australian line and behind 23-29, Harrison stole the lineout throw from the grasp of Lions’ captain Martin Johnson and Australia hung on to record a famous series win. Harrison played every Test in both 2002 and 2004 and he was in the run-on XV for the 2003 Rugby World Cup final. Justin Harrison played 34 Tests for Australia in a four-year international career.
Represented Australian U21s.
2001
Harrison made his Test debut at lock in the run-on XV for the 3rd Test, 29-23 series winning victory over the British & Irish Lions. He played a total of seven Tests including all four on the end-of-season Spring Tour.
2002
Harrison played in all 10 Tests, started in nine and scored his first Test try, against Italy in Genova.
2003
Harrison was not selected for the domestic Tests or the Tri-Nations but played his way into contention for a spot to his first Rugby World Cup through a string of strong performances for the Eastwood club. Three of his five caps won that year came in run-on XV for the quarter-final against Scotland, the semi-final against New Zealand and the final against England.
2004
He started at lock in all 12 Wallaby internationals, the first nine alongside Nathan Sharpe and the final three in partnership with Dan Vickerman in what was his final season of international rugby.
Highlights
1995Represented Australian U21s.
2001
Harrison made his Test debut at lock in the run-on XV for the 3rd Test, 29-23 series winning victory over the British & Irish Lions. He played a total of seven Tests including all four on the end-of-season Spring Tour.
2002
Harrison played in all 10 Tests, started in nine and scored his first Test try, against Italy in Genova.
2003
Harrison was not selected for the domestic Tests or the Tri-Nations but played his way into contention for a spot to his first Rugby World Cup through a string of strong performances for the Eastwood club. Three of his five caps won that year came in run-on XV for the quarter-final against Scotland, the semi-final against New Zealand and the final against England.
2004
He started at lock in all 12 Wallaby internationals, the first nine alongside Nathan Sharpe and the final three in partnership with Dan Vickerman in what was his final season of international rugby.
