Scott George Fava

Scott Fava was a hard nosed, much-travelled back-rower of the old school variety, who finally earned a first Test cap in the shadows of his 30 birthday.

Born in Sydney but raised and schooled in the New South Wales south coast town of Kiama, Fava represented Australia when they won the U21 Southern Hemisphere tournament in 1997. He found a home at Sydney’s Eastwood club and it was with them that he became the first player to win the prestigious Ken Catchpole Medal three times (2002, ‘03 & ‘04), voted as the most outstanding player in the Shute Shield competition.

In 1999, Fava signed with the Queensland Reds and in 2000 played his first Super Rugby match. With just five caps to his name in two seasons Fava moved to the ACT Brumbies in 2002 and stayed there for four fruitful seasons, particularly 2004 when he started at No.8 in their tournament final win over the Crusaders. Fava’s consistent form saw him picked for the Wallabies’ 2005 Spring Tour and he made his Test debut against England at Twickenham.

In 2006 Fava transferred to the Western Force and earned his final three Test caps. When Fava debuted for the Waratahs in 2009 he became the first Australian to play for four Super Rugby franchises. Later that year a chronic back injury forced Fava to announce his immediate retirement from professional rugby.

Highlights

1997

Represented Australian U21s when they won the Southern Hemisphere tournament.

2005

Fava won his first Test cap off the bench when he replaced George Smith at No.8 in the 16-26 loss to England at Twickenham. A week later he won a second cap, also as a replacement, in the 30-14 victory over Ireland in Dublin.

2006

Fava was selected in the Australian Men’s Sevens team for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. He won three Test caps including his first in the run-on XV, at No.8, in the 1st Test, 49-0 rout of South Africa in Brisbane. Fava also scored his lone Test try in the 1st Test loss to New Zealand in Christchurch.