Peter Neave Buchanan

Peter Buchanan, a slightly built utility / five-eighth, holds a unique place in Australian rugby history as the Australian Imperial Force XV’s first captain.

Of Scottish descent yet born in New Zealand, Buchanan first showed in opening game of the 1911 season with the Glebe club. The Referee wrote: ‘Several new members warranted their inclusion and showed form quite up to first grade standard. The new most noticeable men were Buchanan, Wylie and Logan (Glebe)…’ ‘Considered by many to be awfully unlucky in not being picked for representative honours’ back in Auckland, Buchanan 'will certainly make a name for himself in Sydney, provided he plays halfback. To a certain extent his play resembles that of Harry Kiernan (of the 1903 team) [All Black #99 whom early Dominion critics compared favourably with the champion scrum half of the 1924 Originals, Jimmy Mill]. He is remarkably quick in getting the ball away and is a very solid defender.’

In that first year, Buchanan earned selection for Metropolitan II vs Metropolitan and in 1914 for Metropolis against Queensland however his rugby career was cut short when he enlisted with the AIF in September 1915. Initially with the 19th Infantry Battalion, Buchanan saw action in both France and Belgium, suffered “severe trench fever” and went on to attain the rank of Company Sergeant-Major.

Evans & Atkinson’s ‘The King’s Cup 1919’ takes up the story: “After the Armistice in November 1918, with the armies of the world’s rugby-playing nations still stationed in Britain, and with the public desperate to see competitive rugby played again, an inter-military tournament was organised. King George V was so enthused by the proposed competition that he agreed to have the tournament named after him, and so The King’s Cup was born. Teams included The Imperial Army (called the 'Mother Country'), Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Royal Air Force and South Africa. It is arguable that the King’s Cup has claims to be rugby’s first competitive ‘World Cup’."

Exhaustive trials were held by the AIF, a 23 player team and a Reserve team were selected. Some 60-70 men (the four best players from each Australian division) were brought together and a two-week training camp was held in Belgium. A team, tagged the AIF Trench Team, one that included Wallabies ‘Jackie’ Beith, ‘Possum’ Stevenson, Willie Watson, ‘Bill’ Cody and ‘Dud’ Suttor, was selected to play the French Army, and Buchanan was chosen as captain. The AIF won 6-3, highlighted by “Suttor scoring a brilliant try” before the team proceeded to England for the tournament proper. The AIF finished third winning three of their five matches, a record that included the lone defeat of New Zealand who later went on to beat ‘Mother Country’ 9-3 in a playoff and claim the Cup.

Iain Payten continued the story: “Rugby was attempting to get back on its feet in Australia in 1919, and doing so slowly, when news of the achievements of the AIF First XV reached home - particularly beating 'world' champions New Zealand. The Australian public wanted to see the AIF men who’d beaten the New Zealanders on foreign shores. In what would prove a critical decision for rugby's future, the AIF team was kept together and sent home. After stopping in South Africa e and downing the famous Natal team in Durban, the AIF arrived home to a great reception. A schedule of eight exhibition matches was put together: a few regional matches, clashes against NSW and Queensland and three games against an Australian XV. In the first game, which saw the state team wearing maroon to not clash with the AIF in light blue, a crowd of 10,000 watched the AIF forward pack dominate in a 42-14 win” and Buchanan contributed four conversions. He then started at five eighth in the three “Tests”, each of which went the way of the soldiers. Buchanan then went on to make his state debut at halfback in New South Wales’ 32-14 victory over Queensland at University Oval.

Buchanan returned to Glebe-Balmain in 1920 however his next representative game was not until 1921 when he captained Metropolitan to a narrow 8-14 loss to the visiting Springboks but missed out for the Tests, a decision that defied commentary from Rambler in the Arrow: ‘Peter Buchanan continues on in that great sporting spirit that makes him so popular with his team-mates. It’s a guinea to a gooseberry that the selectors will call Peter up before the Springbok engagements are concluded.’ His exclusion was said to be “an eye-opener”.

Overlooked for the home series against New Zealand in 1922, after early season reports suggested he had walked away from the game, Buchanan returned strongly in 1923 and was included in the squad for the incoming three Test series with the Maori. While not required from the bench in the first international, Buchanan came onto the field in the first half of the second match – to replace Sheehan who had departed with a leg injury. Although he did not know it at the time that match was also Buchanan’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). Two days later Buchanan started the final Test in the unfamiliar centre position, alongside ‘Bot’ Stanley, as New South Wales swept the series 3-0.

Having missed selection for the subsequent tour of New Zealand, Buchanan announced his retirement from the game in early 1924.

Highlights

1923

Buchanan made his Test debut when he replaced Billy Sheehan at five-eighth in the second Test, 21-16 win over the Maori at the RAS Ground. He picked up a second cap just two days later, at centre, in 3rd Test 14-12 victory