Robert Thomas Potter

Bob Potter was a tall, robust and courageous three-quarter who rose from the nadir of Queensland rugby to play Test football for Australia. Strong and hard running, Potter was born in Toowoomba and educated at Downlands College. He was Athletics Under Aged Champion and a Darling Downs representative every year he attended Downlands. In 1958 he won the Darling Downs 440 yards Open Championship. After school he studied law at, and played club rugby, for the University of Queensland. Potter made his senior representative debut on the left wing for Queensland against New South Wales in 1961 and a few months later started in the centres against the touring Fijians.

After Australian left winger Ted Magrath suffered a badly sprained ankle in the first Test win in Brisbane, Potter was elevated from the reserves bench to make his debut in Sydney. Although Potter was considered to have played soundly, Magrath was selected for the final Test in Melbourne only to withdraw late in the week. Potter was ruled out as Magrath’s replacement due to a hamstring injury and local Victorian Art Turnbull was handed his Test debut. Potter missed selection for the Wallaby tour to South Africa and played his final game for Queensland later that season against France. Bob Potter played one Test for Australia and will forever be Wallaby #467.

Highlights

1961

Potter won his first Test cap on the left wing in the 2nd Test, 20-14 victory over Fiji at the S.C.G.