Peter Douglas Moore

Peter Moore was a pocket rocket of a three-quarter who possessed sharp pace, ran strongly and tackled aggressively. Moore’s rugby career highlight came in 1969 when he joined a remarkable five Brothers’ clubmen on the Wallaby tour of South Africa. 

Born and raised in Brisbane Moore was a star athlete at St. Columban's College, Albion. Moore was a member of The Associated Schools’ Athletics Team (1964-65), the second year as captain when he ran a “splendid second place in the open 100 yards”. In 1965 Moore was the St. Columban’s Athletics Open Champion and a member of The Associated Schools’ Swim Team. Moore graduated from the 1963 15As rugby to two seasons in the 1st XV (1964-65). Described as “a dangerous, hard running centre, often the rallying point of the team” he went on to win the award for best back in the 1965 1st XV. Finally, Moore won the 1965 John R. Parry Memorial Prize for Service to the College.

After school Moore joined the Brothers club where he played two seasons in the U19s -- during which time he represented Queensland at U19 level -- before he graduated to first grade in 1968. 

In 1969, Moore made his senior debut for Queensland in their Wallaby Trophy match against Victoria (W 32-11) at Ballymore. Nineteen days later Queensland faced Sydney and recorded an “exciting, if fortunate” upset 11-6 victory. Sydney scored two tries to one however the press wrote that “Queensland scored a remarkable try, a genuine team effort”, one which began when “Moore fielded a ball in the midfield and spurted 40 yards until downed 10 yards from the posts.” From there it was on to the trials ahead of the Wallabies tour of South Africa. Although Queensland went down 11-17 in the main trial against New South Wales, Moore who had impressed with his speed and willingness to look for work, emerged as one of four wingers -- alongside Rod Batterham, John Cole and Terry Forman -- selected for the tour. 

Moore made his Australian debut in the opening tour fixture, against Eastern Transvaal, where he showed a clever change of direction to sprint across for a try in a 27-13 victory. Moore played a further 10 uncapped matches, winning seven and losing three, however Forman and Cole were preferred on the wings in each of the four Test matches. 

The following season, Moore started in the opening two state matches for Queensland but withdrew from the tour to Fiji due to work commitments. In 1971, Moore followed in the footsteps of several 1969 Wallaby teammates when he switched codes to play rugby league for Souths in the Brisbane competition.  

Highlights

1969
Moore started 11 matches on the Wallaby tour to South Africa - vs. Eastern Transvaal at Springs (W 27-13), vs. Griqualand West at Kimberley (L 13-21), vs. South Africa Country Districts at Wellington (W 13-12), vs. South-West Districts at Oudtshoorn (W 31-23), vs. Eastern Province at Port Elizabeth (W (17-0), vs. Boland at Wellington (L 3-12), vs. Central Universities at Port Elizabeth (W 26-11), vs. North-East Cape at Graaf-Reinet (W 12-11), vs. Orange Free State at Bloemfontein (W 25-14), vs. Western Transvaal at Potchefstroom (L 6-18), and vs. North-West Cape at Upington (W 37-6).