Ken Catchpole

Full name

Ken William Catchpole

Date of birth

21 June 1939 (age 77)

Place of birth

Paddington

School

The Scots College

University

Sydney University

Rugby union career

Playing career

Position

Scrum-half

Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team

Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1959–68	NSW	26

National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1961–1968	Australia	27

Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team

Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1959–68	NSW	26

National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1961–1968	Australia	27

Ken Catchpole OAM, (born 1939) is a former Australian rugby union footballer. A state and national representative half-back, he played twenty-seven matches for Australia, thirteen as captain. Catchpole rose through the ranks at the Randwick club as a young man, before making his debut for New South Wales at only 19 years of age, then captaining Australia at age 21. He is considered one of Australia's greatest rugby scrumhalves.

Born in Paddington, New South Wales Catchpole was schooled initially at Randwick Primary School before moving the Coogee Preparatory School. He excelled at sports and participated in rugby, swimming, tennis and boxing. From Coogee Prep he won an academic scholarship to The Scots College for his high school years. His rugby prowess saw him play in the Scots First XV for three of his senior years. He won selection for the GPS 3rds in his first senior year, then in the GPS 1sts in his two remaining years. He gained entrance to Sydney University to study science.

He was lured to his local Randwick DRUFC ahead of the Sydney Uni Rugby Club and debuted in 1958, aged eighteen in the under 21s. The following season he cemented a first grade spot and after just a few games he made his state representative debut for New South Wales against the touring British Lions. He played alongside Arthur Summons in the halves, scored a try to help New South Wales to an upset 18–14 win over the tourists to mark his state debut. The following year at age twenty he captained New South Wales in matches against the visiting All Blacks.

...
Wikipedia