1. Dan Crowley (Queensland and Australia)
A remarkable character who combined an elite rugby career with his role as an undercover policeman in Queensland specialising in dangerous drug operations. All this was only possible with the collusion of the Australian media who complied with requests from Queensland and Australia that they never use a photograph of him or interview the rawboned prop. His occupation, if listed at all, was normally put down as security or risk mitigation.
Nothing could stop his match day appearance on the TV but happily he was usually buried deep in a scrum or maul, wore an overlarge headband and – it would appear – very few drug barons and their heavies in Queensland were Rugby Union fans.
Crowley enjoyed a significant career and was a member of two World Cup-winning squads (1991 and 1999) and played in the 1989 Lions series and his extraordinary double life is chronicled in his autobiography. In Undercover Prop he details some of the drugs raids and shoot outs and indeed at one time he continued coordinating on an undercover assignment back in Australia while preparing for a Test in New Zealand.
“Bob Dwyer once asked me why I seemed so cool and calm before games and didn’t suffer from nerves,” explains Crowley. “I replied that for a day job I often barged through a door not knowing if there was somebody on the other side armed with a shotgun. Rugby was a relaxation by comparison.”
2. John Gallagher (Old Askeans, London Irish, Wellington, New Zealand)
Denne historien er fra June 21, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 21, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
