Tony Melrose
Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer
About Tony Melrose
Born 1959. Tony Melrose is an Australian rugby league player and rugby union player.
Tony Melrose (born 7 September 1959) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. He played in the NSWRL Premiership for Parramatta, South Sydney, Manly-Warringah and Eastern Suburbs in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition. He primarily played in the centres or at .
Melrose began his footballing career playing rugby union. He was captain of the Australian Schoolboys rugby union team and was a member of the team's undefeated tour of Great Britain in 1977. In that Schoolboys squad were the likes of the Ella Brothers Mark, Glen and Gary, as well as future dual international Michael O'Connor and future Australian Kangaroos captain Wally Lewis. He played for the Parramatta Two Blues, New South Wales Waratahs and six tests for Australia as a five-eighth before switching to rugby league in 1980 at the age of twenty.
Melrose was selected to represent New South Wales as a winger for game II of the 1982 State of Origin series, scoring two goals from three attempts.
After two seasons with Parramatta, Tony Melrose moved to Souths where he was the Rabbitohs leading point scorer in 1982 with 186 points (8 tries, 79 goals), and again in 1983 with 154 points (2 tries, 69 goals). He then spent two seasons at Manly under the coaching of Bob Fulton before moving to Easts from 1986 to 1989.
Melrose retired from playing league after the 1989 NSWRL season, having played 183 first grade games (20 with the Eels, 50 with Souths, 39 with Manly and 74 with Easts). He scored a total of 32 tries (4, 10, 7 and 11 with each respective club) and kicked 298 goals (18, 148, 61 and 71).
After retiring from league, Melrose eventually returned to union in 1992, playing with Gordon RFC.
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Important facts
People in Tony Melrose's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Tony Melrose's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Tony Melrose?
Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer
When was Tony Melrose born?
Tony Melrose was born on 7 September 1959 in Sydney.
What is Tony Melrose's occupation?
Tony Melrose is a rugby league player and rugby union player.
What nationality is Tony Melrose?
Tony Melrose is Australian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tony Melrose. https://biography.guide/tony-melrose/
MLA: "Tony Melrose." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tony-melrose/.
Chicago: "Tony Melrose." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tony-melrose/.
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