Ken Catchpole

Early life Born in Paddington, New South Wales Catchpole was schooled initially at Randwick Primary School before moving to Coogee Preparatory School. From Coogee Prep he won an academic scholarship to The Scots College for his high school years. His rugby prowess saw him play in the Scots First XV for three of his senior years.

Rugby career He was lured to his local Randwick DRUFC ahead of the Sydney Uni Rugby Club and debuted in 1958, aged eighteen in the under 21s. The following season he cemented a first grade spot and after just a few games he made his state representative debut for New South Wales against the touring British Lions.

Playing at scrum-half, partnered with Phil Hawthorne at fly-half, the pair became one of rugby's most famous duos. Catchpole played South Africa in Australia in 1965, where the Wallabies won both tests in a two-game series over the Springboks. He also toured the United Kingdom in 1966 and 1967, captaining Australia to victory in Tests against England and Wales. He was also captain for the Tests against Scotland and Ireland and in a number of other tour matches. After the win against England the President of the English Rugby Union, Duggie Harrison described him as "the greatest halfback of all time".

Accolades In January 2001 Catchpole was awarded the Centenary Medal, "For service to Australian society through the sport of rugby union" and the Australian Sports Medal "For services to rugby union". In the 2001 Australia Day Honours, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) "For service to Rugby Union football, and to the community."

In 2004 Catchpole was inducted onto the Museum of Rugby Wall of Fame. A plaque in the Walk of Honour at the Sydney Cricket Ground commemorates his career and a statue at the Sydney Football Stadium immortalises Catchpole. The Shute Shield Player of the Year Medal is named in honour of Catchpole. Upon his induction Australian Rugby Union President Paul McLean referred to Catchpole as: "exuding grace and majesty". and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2013.

Former All Black scrum-half Chris Laidlaw, whose rugby contemporaries included Welsh rugby great Gareth Edwards and Sid Going, in his 1973 autobiography Mud in Your Eye, wrote that:

Bob Dwyer, former Australian rugby coach, in his first autobiography The Winning Way, rated Ken Catchpole as one of the five most accomplished Australian rugby players he had ever seen, citing him as the best in terms of "all-round ability..."

In 2013 Australian sports magazine Inside Rugby named its four Australian Invincibles – a rugby union equivalent of rugby league's Immortals. Ken Catchpole was named alongside Col Windon, Mark Ella and David Campese as the first Invincibles of Australian rugby.

Personal life Catchpole died in Sydney at the age of 78 on the night of 21 December 2017 after a long battle with an illness.

Published references Howell, Max (2005) Born to Lead – Wallaby Test Captains, Celebrity Books, Auckland NZ Zavos, Spiro (2000) The Golden Wallabies, Penguin, Victoria

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