Andrew Slack
| Full name | Andrew Gerard Slack | ||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname | Slacky | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 24 September 1955 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Brisbane, Australia | ||||||||||||||||
| School | Villanova College | ||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Professional rugby union footballer, after dinner speaker | ||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | |||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre | ||||||||||||||||
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| Amateur clubs | |||
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| Years | Club / team | ||
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Souths Rugby Wanderers F.C |
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| Provincial/State sides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Club / team | Apps | (points) |
| 1975–87 | Queensland | 133 | |
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Correct as of 7 July 2011
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| National team(s) | |||
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| Years | Club / team | Apps | (points) |
| 1978–87 |
 Australia
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39 | 40 |
Andrew Gerard Slack (born 24 September 1955 in Brisbane) is an Australian former state and national representative rugby union player who captained the Wallabies in 19 Test matches in between 1984 and 1987. His 133 appearances for Queensland between 1975 and 1987 stood as the state record until bettered by Mark Connors in 2006.
He made 87 total appearances for Australia between 1978 and 1987 earning 39 Test caps. He scored 10 tries and captained Australia on 34 occasions in total. He was the tour captain for the Wallabies' 1984 tour Grand Slam feat.
Andrew Slack attended school at Villanova College, Coorparoo, Queensland. He played his club rugby with Brisbane Souths and made his Queensland state debut against a Combined Services side, as a five-eighth at age 19 in 1975 before switching to centre for the rest of his stellar career.
He debuted for Australia in 1978 in the home series against Wales which the Wallabies won 2-nil under Tony Shaw.
Slack is remembered as a key factor in the Wallabies' ascendancy to world class status, eventually guiding them to a Bledisloe Cup, a Grand Slam and a World Cup semi-final. Though a fine player in his own right, Andrew's main strengths were his tactical acumen and the ability to get the most out of his teammates. These qualities made him a superb captain when he was eventually given the honour in 1984 and he would eventually lead Australia to 14 victories in 19 matches. His international debut came in Australia's 2–0 victory over Wales in 1978, a series even more violent and acrimonious than England's visit three years earlier. Australia were somewhat fortunate to win the second test when a Paul McClean drop goal was awarded despite sailing wide of the posts, but Andrew enjoyed the winning feeling all the same. "There was controversy aplenty but after my first series it was two to us and nil to the others!". Wales were in the midst of a period when they were dominating European rugby and this test series win was notable in establishing the Wallabies credentials as a test side.
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