John Eales AM
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John Eales AM

Rugby World Cup winning Captain

John Eales was the finest player of his generation and in many eyes the greatest rugby player of all time. He won every trophy on offer in the game as Captain including the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

John revolutionised the way a second rower played the game. He was versatile, remarkably athletic, notably modest, universally respected and one of the great role models rugby has ever seen. He was the dominant lineout forward in the world, exhibited unbelievable poise when under pressure and had an extraordinary influence on the Australian team. His overall abilities, combined with his inspirational leadership and outstanding sportsmanship, spawned his nickname โ€œNobody,โ€ derived from a clever reading of the adage โ€œNobodyโ€™s perfect.โ€

His rapid rise to international rugby fame began with his Test (international) match debut against Wales in 1991, only one year after his first appearance for his state team, Queensland. He was a member of the 1991 World Cup-winning Australian national team, theย Wallabies. In 1996 he was awarded the Wallabies Captaincy, and he went on to serve as Australiaโ€™s Captain for more matches (86) than any other player, remaining at the helm until his retirement in 2001. Eales led the Wallabies to numerous victories, including the 1999 World Cup, the 2000 and 2001 Tri-Nations Championships, the Bledisloe Cup (1998โ€“2001), and Australiaโ€™s first series win against the touring British and Irish Lions side in 2001.

In 1999, John was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) for services to theย community and rugby. In 2002 the Australian Rugby Union Playersโ€™ Association established the John Eales Medal, awarded annually to Australiaโ€™s top rugby union player.

Johnโ€™s transition from the sporting to the corporate arena has been nothing short of impressive. Highlights include being the Founder of the Mettle Group (now part of Chandler McLeod Group); sitting on the boards of Flight Centre, Magellan Financial Group, the Australian Rugby Union, FXDMS, The Palladium Group and GRM International and consulting to the likes of BT Financial Group, Qantas, Salmat and Fuji Xerox.

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