As the 2023 Bledisloe Cup Draws to a close, we reflect on rugby at Scotch.
The first Public School Rugby match in Victoria was played against Melbourne Grammar School on the Melville Oval at Scotch on Thursday 11 August 1932. Scotch scored first, with a try that was not converted. At halftime the score was 16-0, and although Grammar lifted in the second half, the final score was 19-0. This was the beginning of rugby at Scotch, which to date has provided the Wallabies with four players.
Ewan McKenzie
Ewen McKenzie (SC 1977-83)
Ewen was Vice-Captain and on-field Captain (due to the Captain’s injury) of the 1981 1st XV. He captained the 1982 and 1983 1st XV to undefeated seasons, and by 1982 was already known as ‘Mr Rugby.’ Ewen was picked for the NSW Waratahs against Queensland in 1987. It was the first of his 37 games for the Waratahs (1987-95). On 9 June 1990 against France he first represented Australia as a Wallaby. He is Wallaby No. 688. When Ewen represented Australia for the 51st and last time, against England, on 12 July 1997, he was then Australia’s most-capped prop. With Tony Daly and Phil Kearns he formed a formidable front row which was part of Australia’s 1991 World Cup winning side. He scored nine points as a Wallaby. Ewen played 36 games for the ACT Brumbies (1996-97). He was an assistant coach to the Wallabies (2000-03) before coaching the NSW Waratahs from November 2003. McKenzie coached the team to grand final losses in 2005 and 2008. After coaching Paris club Stade Francais (2008-09), in 2010 he became coach of the Queensland Reds in the Super 14 competition, leading the struggling team to victory in the 2011 Super Rugby grand final. He coached the Wallabies from 2013 to 2014.
Richard Harry (SC 1980).
Richard played Under-14 rugby in his one year at Scotch before moving to Sydney, where he attended Barker College. He was a halfback, later a flanker, and finally a loosehead prop. Richard was Wallaby No. 725. He played in the winning 1998 Bledisloe Cup and helped retain it the next three years. Richard was in the 1999 World Cup winning team, and in the victorious team in the 2000 Tri Nations series. He won 37 Test rugby caps. In 2005 he was the first player named in the ARU Team of the Decade.
Andrew Heath (SC 1982-87)
Originally a basketballer at Scotch, Andrew became a member of the 1986 and 1987 1st XVs. He was a tight head prop. Andrew was Wallaby No. 730 and won 8 Test rugby caps
David Fitter (SC 1989-94)
After initially playing football at Scotch, David became a member of the 1994 1st XV. He was a strong scrummaging tight head prop. David was Wallaby No. 807 and won 2 Test rugby caps
Rugby administrator
Brett Gosper (SC 1969-76)
Brett played in the 1975 1st XV and was the 1976 1st XV Captain. He represented Victoria in 1979 and 1980 and in 1980 was selected for the Australian Under-21 Rugby team. From 1981 to 1990 he played for Racing Club de France. In 2012 Brett became CEO of the International World Rugby Board (now World Rugby), leaving it in 2021 to become inaugural head of National Football League Europe.
