Name Garrick Fay Role Rugby Player | Height 1.97 m | |
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Garrick Fay (b. 11 April 1948 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian rugby player who was a member of the Australian national team from 1971-79.
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International Rugby career
Garrick Fay was a highly respected and admired for his technical ability and control. He was invited to play in a number of teams at the Scottish Rugby Union Centenary in 1973, as well as the Irish Rugby Union Centenary in 1974. He was selected as captain of the Rugby World XV side in the centenary celebrations for the Cardiff Rugby Club in 1977.
Australia rugby union team
Garrick's first cap for Australia was on 31 July 1971 at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground against South Africa during their controversial tour of Australia. Due to the more experienced second row of the South African side, Fay was dropped for subsequent games and rejoined the squad for the Wallabies tour of New Zealand and Fiji in 1972.
Fay's golden years, as with many other players competing for the Wallabies around this time, was during The Sixth Wallaby tour in 1975-76. Garrick played 11 tour matches, and 4 out of the 5 major test matches. He sustained an injury whilst playing against Wales and rested during 1976. This meant missing out on two Fiji Tests and the end of season tour against France but returned for the home series against Wales. Performing solidly meant Fay received an invitation to the 1978 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand where he played in 10 tour matches and scored 3 tries.
Fay made the decision to leave international rugby in 1979, but continued to play for Northern Suburbs Rugby Club. He also withdrew his availability for representative teams at the same time. This made his last game for the Wallabies against Ireland at Brisbane on 3 June 1979 where they unfortunately lost 12 - 27.
Time off
Garrick's main club was the Northern Suburbs Rugby Club in Sydney, New South Wales. He played in the second row between the years 1968 - 1981 with the exception of 1970-1971 where he took a year off to travel overseas. During this time he traveled to Canada where he played for, and captained, James Bay Athletic Association in British Columbia. In 1970 - 1971 he played for Wasps RFC in London, UK and became known for eating 3 plates of egg & chips in a motorway service station at 4am on his way home from Nottingham.
Provincial/State sides
Garrick lead Sydney and New South Wales as captain in 1977-78. Ironically leading Sydney to victory against Wales in 1978, beating them 18 - 16, only to be beaten whilst captaining the larger side of New South Wales 0-18 a few days later.