| Simon Poidevin |  |
|
|
Between 1980 and 1991, Simon Poidevin represented Australia in 59 Rugby Union Tests. At the time of his retirement, he was Australia’s most capped Rugby Union forward, and the nation’s most capped player behind his Randwick and Australian team-mate David Campese.
He won selection in the 1976 Australian Schoolboys side, and began his international career in Suva in 1980 against Fiji. Since making his test debut, he was dropped only once, against Scotland in 1982.
He toured the world with the Wallabies from 1981 to 1991, finishing his career with the triumphant World Cup campaign. He captained the team in 1986 for a tour of New Zealand and 1987 for the World Cup in South America.
Simon announced his retirement from representative Rugby midway through 1988, but was enticed back into the Test team a year later against the All Blacks in Auckland. Simon played 105 first grade games for Randwick, making nine Grand Final appearances and winning six.
In 1989 the Sydney referees voted him as the Rothmans gold medal winner, and he was a joint winner of the Sydney Morning Herald players of the Year. In 1991 he was named Yardley Gold footballer of the year. In 1988 he was awarded the OAM and in 2002 he was awarded the Centenary Medal.
He is regarded as one of the legends of Australian Rugby and was noted for his tough, uncompromising but fair approach to Rugby. Simon was inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions in 1991.
He has since enjoyed a long television career in Rugby commentary with the Ten and Seven Networks.
Based in: Sydney