John Fuller (rugby union)

John George Fuller (18 May 1920 – 2 December 2003) was an Australian international rugby union player.

John Fuller
Full nameJohn George Fuller
Date of birth(1920-05-18)18 May 1920
Place of birthSydney, NSW, Australia
Date of death2 December 2003(2003-12-02) (aged 83)
SchoolCranbrook School
UniversityUniversity of Sydney
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
New South Wales ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1947–48 Australia

Fuller was educated at Cranbrook School and the University of Sydney, where he studied medicine. He made his first-grade debut for the university in 1939, before his career was stalled by the war. A lieutenant with the 2/18th Battalion, Fuller fought along the Malayan peninsula and in 1942 was captured by the Japanese in Singapore. He was initially interned at Changi Prison, then sent to a prisoner of war camp in Japan, remaining there until the war's end in 1945.[1][2]

A forward, Fuller recovered sufficiently to return to rugby and made his New South Wales debut as a front-rower in 1946, scoring a try in their win over Toowoomba. He was used as a breakaway in a later fixture against Queensland and it was in this position he got selected by the Wallabies for their 1947–48 northern hemisphere tour. Although not required for the Test matches, Fuller featured often in tour fixtures, making 11 uncapped appearances.[3]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Man about town". Daily Mirror. 12 October 1945. p. 8 (Noon Edition) – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Informal portrait of NX34875 Lieutenant (Lt) John George Fuller, 2/18th Battalion from Bellevue ..." www.awm.gov.au.
  3. ^ "John George Fuller". classicwallabies.com.au.