The Rogues Rant #206

Welcome to The Rogues Rant, an occasional look at all things Rugby.

It was sad to here of the passing of Lloyd McDermott on the 6th April. Lloyd McDermott (Mullenjaiwakka) was a legend of Australian Rugby both on and the field. He was born in Eidsvold Qld in 1939 and as an outstanding academic and sportsman gained a Scholarship to Attend the Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane. He was a schoolboy 100 & 200 Meter sprint champion and played First 15 rugby for three years. While studying law at the University of Queensland he represented Qld ten times against Fiji, France and New Zealand. He became Wallaby no.470 when he played two Tests against the All Blacks in 1962, only the second Indigenous Australian to do so. He ended his playing career in 1963 after being selected in the Wallabies Squad to tour South Africa. Refusing to be classified as an “Honorary White” to enable him to make the tour to the Republic under the South African apartheid regime, he walked away from Rugby. Completing his Law studies he eventually became Australia’s first Indigenous Barrister in NSW. He became a Trustee of the NSW Bar Association Indigenous Lawyers Trust. It was his passion in life to find ways to promote opportunities for Indigenous Youth. Through the Lloyd McDermott Sports Foundation and the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team, he established programs to do just that with many indigenous young Australians benefiting from his guidance and support. The Bar Association of Queensland in 2009 established the Mullenjaiwakka Trust for Indigenous Legal Students named in his honor. Lloyd McDermott Mullenjaiwakka was a Legend in Life and his legacy will long live on. RIP Lloyd McDermott.

The whole Israel Folau thing is very disappointing for Rugby all round. But it all boils down to the fact that Rugby Players at this level these days are employees of Multi-million Dollar organizations and have to take that responsibility seriously in all aspects of their everyday life just like mere mortals do and more.  

So we are halfway through Super Rugby for the year. Apart from the Crusaders most sides are struggling a bit for consistency. The Rebels really hit the wall against some outstanding Stormer’s defense last week. The Stormer’s had only the one win on their four match Australasian tour. With the Waratahs having a bye last week the Rebels still enjoy a seven point margin at the top of the Aussie Conference. Should be very interesting at the SCG on Saturday night. The Crusaders are well clear in NZ and its wide open in South Africa. My tips for this week: Chiefs, Sharks, Hurricanes, Highlanders, Rebels, Stormers.  

No matches locally over Easter. Round three is on Saturday 27th April. Get your tips in to Beat The Rogue by 7.00PM Friday 26th April.    

All opinions offered in this column are the opinion of the author. They should not be considered to represent the views of the IDRU.