Stephen Alan Hoiles

Stephen Hoiles was a highly skilled, ball-playing backrower who came from a talented sporting family. His father won three first grade grand finals with Randwick as an inside centre during the early 1970s, his mother represented Australia at netball, sister Sarah won two national surf lifesaving titles and uncle Reg Smith was Wallaby #537.

Hoiles joined the Coogee Seahorses Juniors at age six, played his rugby on Saturdays and league on Sundays with the Coogee Wombats. He attended Sydney’s Waverley College and in 1999 played in the 1st XV. After graduation Hoiles joined the famous Randwick club and from there was picked to play for the Australian Men’s 7s team.

In 2004 he gained a full-time contract with the NSW Waratahs and made his debut against the Crusaders in Christchurch. He won selection on that year’s Wallaby Spring Tour where he made his Test debut against Scotland in Glasgow. Hoiles tallied 16 Tests caps over his five year international career before a routine operation at the end of 2010 left him with an undiagnosed splinter of bone in his Achilles tendon. As a consequence he lost three crucial years of his rugby career.

In 2014, NSW coach Michael Cheika threw Hoiles a lifeline and put him on a supplementary contract for the Super Rugby season. He became a key member of the Waratahs match day squad and following the season ending knee injury to captain Dave Dennis deservedly wore the No.6 jersey as the Waratahs marched toward their maiden title against the Crusaders in Sydney.

Highlights

2001/02

Represented Australia in the IRB Sevens World Series.

2004

Hoiles won his first Test cap off the bench when he replaced David Lyons at No.8 in the 2nd Test, 31-17 victory over Scotland in Glasgow. He picked up a second cap one week later against England at Twickenham.

2005

Hoiles missed the entire 2005 international season after he underwent a full knee reconstruction.

2006

He was not selected for the domestic Tests but was included in the end-of-season Spring Tour squad where he won a single cap against Wales in Cardiff.

2007

Hoiles won a career high 12 caps and played in every Wallaby Test of the year. His first Test try was the 81st minute matchwinner in the 1st Test, 29-23 international against Wales in Sydney. Hoiles won his first run-on XV cap at No.8 in the 25-17, 2nd Test win over South Africa in Sydney.

2008

Hoiles played his final international at No.8 in the 2nd Test, 40-10 victory over France in Brisbane.