Wallaby lends helping hand

Ex-Wallaby Gary Pearse conducts training for ASRU women’s team members Able Seaman Rebecca Weaver (front) and Captain Vivian Law at Victoria Barrack, Sydney. Photo by Bill Cunneen

By Michael Weaver

FROM when he started playing rugby union in the days of black and white television, former member of the Australian Wallabies team member Gary Pearse has had a colourful career.

His most recent venture was putting the current Australian Services Rugby Union (ASRU) women’s team through its paces prior to the Australian Women’s Invitational Tournament in Sydney from July 24-26.

Well before that however, Pearse played for Australia from 1975-1978 as a flanker and from 1978-1984 as a prop in the seven-a-side version.

He also spent a year playing with Italian club side Lazio – “It was like playing with 14 Fonzies who spent most of their time looking in the mirror before they went on” – before moving to South Africa where he captained Natal in their Curry Cup competition.

“The South African government had a siege mentality and it was interesting because I went there with certain views but was fortunate enough to help start up rugby in the coal mines and also in the colleges,” recalls Pearse.

“We started coaching them and took them up to a great standard. A coal mine called Barkham Mines went on win the national championship.”

Pearse’s association with the ASRU team came about through a similarly mutual admiration when he gave a speech at a gala night at RMC Duntroon.

ASRU women’s team manager WO2 Barry Carr invited Pearse to put the girls through their paces and he was happy to help.

Pearse said that moulding players from the three services was similar to the Wallabies coming together.
“I just helped get some basic things right and then let their own talent take it from there,” he said.

“Irrespective of if you’re a guy or a girl, rugby is a great game that’s got some terrific values associated with it, especially in helping your mate on the field.”

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