Dick Poole

Herbert Richard Poole (27 November 1930 – 6 June 2025) was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He was a for the Australian national team. He played in ten Tests and three World Cup games between 1955 and 1957, as captain on three occasions. He was the oldest living Australian representative rugby league player at the time of his death in June 2025, at the age of 94.

Background Herbert Richard Poole was born in Surry Hills on 27 November 1930.

Representative career Poole first represented New South Wales in 1954. Following his Kangaroo Tour appearances of 1957 he was selected as captain-coach of New South Wales in 1957.

Poole made his Australian Test debut in 1955 in the series against France after having initially been picked as a reserve for the squad. His last minute call up was for the third Test played in Sydney in July 1955. He was selected for the three Tests of 1956 against New Zealand and then for the 1956–57 Kangaroo Tour of England and France. He appeared in six Tests and 11 minor tour matches scoring 17 tries in all.

In 1957, he was a surprise selection as captain-coach ahead of the more experienced Ken Kearney in the squad for the World Cup tournament to be played in Australia. Poole's side included magnificent players such as Brian Carlson, Norm Provan, Kel O'Shea, Kearney and Brian Clay and they swept all before them. Poole enjoyed a record of three times captaining his country for three victories.

Post playing At the end of his playing career Poole returned to Newtown as coach from 1966 to 1968. In 2008, the centenary year of rugby league in Australia, Poole was named in the Newtown Jets 18-man team of the century.

Poole died in Ashfield on 6 June 2025, at the age of 94.

Matches played