Scott Robert Gourley

Scott Gourley was a rangy, mobile and hard-hitting backrower who switched to rugby league at the peak of his union career. Gourley was more or less destined for league, and to play for St George, given his father Robin had been a member of the club’s 1965 and 1966 premiership-winning sides.

Born in Sydney but educated at Narrabri High School, Gourley’s first taste of representative football was for Australian Schools in 1985. He joined the Eastwood club in Sydney and in 1988, before he had even debuted for New South Wales, Gourley was selected for the 15-match Wallaby tour of England, Scotland and Italy. He was overlooked for the 19-28 loss to England however that appeared to be something of a godsend given it was the Wallabies’ third loss from their previous four Tests. Two weeks later Gourley took Julian Gardner’s spot on the side of the scrum and made his Test debut against Scotland.

In 1989 he played all three Tests of the spiteful home series against the British Lions before he upped and went to league.

In 1991 Gourley became a dual international when he made his only league Test appearance against Papua New Guinea.

Highlights

1985/86

Represented Australian Schools against New Zealand Schools and was selected on the tour to the U.K. and Europe.

1988

Gourley won his first Test cap as the starting blindside flanker in the 32-13 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield. He scored his first Test try to become the 65th Wallaby to score a try on debut. Two weeks later he retained his spot in the 55-6 defeat of Italy in Roma.

1989

Gourley started at No.6 alongside Jeff Miller and Steve Tuynman in each of the three Tests against the British Lions.