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Arthur McCabe

1887 – 1924

Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer

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About Arthur McCabe

Lived 1887 – 1924 (aged 37). Arthur McCabe was an Australian rugby league player and rugby union player.

Rugby union career 1908 Olympic Gold Final Wallabies v Cornwall. A brilliant fly-half, Mackker McCabe was a member of the Australian rugby union team, which won the gold medal, with McCabe scoring two tries in the gold medal victory.

While he toured the US and England with the Wallabies in the lead-up tour prior to the Olympics, his gold medal match was his sole Australian representative appearance.

Rugby league career On his return to Australia, he joined the fledgling code of rugby league along with 13 of his Olympic teammates. He played for five seasons with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, finishing his career with a premiership win in 1914. Despite representing for New South Wales in rugby league in 1910 he was unsuccessful in his bid to become a dual-code rugby international.

For the season 1910, he was the NSW Rugby Football League's top try scorer. He was so highly praised by the press that they dubbed him The Will-O'-The-Wisp, a phrase that became synonymous with McCabe.

Death Arthur McCabe died suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Morehead Street, Redfern on 30 July 1924, age 37. A large funeral was held for 'Mackker' McCabe and was attended by many ex Wallaby players and South Sydney players. He was buried at Rookwood Cemetery on 31 July 1924.

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Important facts

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Arthur McCabe's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Arthur McCabe?

Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer (1887–1924)

When was Arthur McCabe born?

Arthur McCabe was born on 23 June 1887 in Tamworth.

When did Arthur McCabe die?

Arthur McCabe died on 30 July 1924 in Sydney.

What was Arthur McCabe's occupation?

Arthur McCabe was a rugby league player and rugby union player.

What nationality was Arthur McCabe?

Arthur McCabe was Australian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Arthur McCabe

· Wikidata: Q1810618

· DBpedia: Arthur McCabe

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Arthur McCabe. https://biography.guide/arthur-mccabe-rugby-league-player/

MLA: "Arthur McCabe." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/arthur-mccabe-rugby-league-player/.

Chicago: "Arthur McCabe." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/arthur-mccabe-rugby-league-player/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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