Troy Jaques

Born in Newcastle and raised in Tamworth, Troy Jaques was a no-nonsense lock cum backrower who enjoyed a brief career in international rugby. Jaques was educated at Our Lady of the Rosary College before he moved to Sydney to take up a swimming scholarship with Waverley College. He played two years of 1st XV rugby and in 1990 won selection for Australian Schools. Jaques then joined the Eastern Suburbs club and during his time there was picked to play Australian U21s. He moved to Northern Suburbs and in 1997 he made his professional rugby debut for the ACT Brumbies against Transvaal.

In 2000, Jaques came off the bench in the final against the Crusaders and his strong Super Rugby form was rewarded with a Test debut against South Africa in Melbourne. Jaques played two Tests for Australia before he went abroad to start a culturally interesting and lucrative career in France (with Brive and Clermont Ferrand), and Japan (Ricoh).

Highlights

1990/91

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

1993

Represented the AIS Australian U21s.

2000

Jaques won his first Test cap off the bench when he replaced David Wilson at openside flanker in the 1st Test, 44-23 victory over South Africa in Melbourne. A week later he played his second international, again off the bench, in the 1st Test, 35-39 loss to New Zealand in Sydney.