Matthew John Dunning

Matt Dunning is the only Wallaby known to have been born in Canada. A hefty, primarily loosehead prop, Dunning trod the traditional, albeit modern day path to national honours. He graduated from Sydney’s Northholm Grammar School and won selection for the 1996 Australian Schools team alongside fellow future Wallaby Phil Waugh.

Dunning then went on to represent at aged level in both 1998 and 1999. He debuted for the NSW Waratahs in 2000 and the following year played his first Super Rugby match against the Chiefs.

In 2003, Dunning was picked in the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup squad and made his Test debut against Namibia in Adelaide.

Matt Dunning played 45 Tests for Australia during his seven-year international career.

Highlights

1996

Represented Australian Schools against Ireland Schools and New Zealand Schools.

1998

Represented Australian U21s.

1999

Represented Australian U21s.

2003

Dunning won his first Test cap when he started at loosehead prop in the 142-0, RWC pool game defeat of Namibia at Adelaide Oval. He picked up a second cap against England at Twickenham.

2004

He accumulated 11 caps over the season, all of them as a replacement, and only missed the one-off Test against the Pacific Islanders in Adelaide.

2005

Dunning played in 12 of the Wallabies’ 13 Tests and had his first start on the tighthead side of the scrum in the opening international of the season against Samoa.

2007

Dunning re-emerged as the Wallabies’ first choice loosehead prop. He earned 11 caps, ten of which were won in the run-on XV and was selected to his second Rugby World Cup.

2008

Benn Robinson’s return from injury saw Dunning switch to the tighthead position from where he earned a further seven Test caps.

2009

Dunning missed all of the domestic Test season after he badly damaged his Achilles in the 2008 Barbarians fixture but was recalled for the Spring Tour where he was capped twice, against England and Wales.