True Rugby Legend - Tim Horan

 

Former Australia and Queensland Reds center Tim Horan must be one of the modern greats of Rugby Union and certainly one of the first legends of the professional era. Horan was a complete player in the middle, both in attack and defense, which always made him a formidable opponent for his opposing number, knowing that it would be hard to get past him and hard to stop him. As an attacking threat, Horan had quick feet and could change direction in an instant, but he was just as good at being a playmaker and making room for others to take a break.

Where did it all begin?

He was born Timothy James Horan on May 18, 1970 in Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales, although he was raised in Toowoomba, Queensland. Would you think that Tim originally started his rugby career playing ตำนานมิดฟิลด์ for his local club in Toowoomba and was not introduced to the Rugby Union code until he went to Downlands Grammar School at the age of 12. Horan played an important role as member of a successful Downlands Grammar 1st XV team that was undefeated in 1987 and coached by former English coach John Elders. He also represented Australia at the schoolboy level before winning his first cap in 1989 against the All Blacks at the age of 19 without ever having played senior representative rugby for Queensland.

International record

A young Tim Horan along with Jason Little and John Eales went on to win the 1991 Rugby World Cup, defeating England in the final at Twickenham. These were the only three surviving members of the 1991 team to go on to lift the trophy again in 1999, when Australia defeated France at the Millennium Stadium in Wales, becoming the first nation ever to win the competition twice. Eales was captain of the side throughout the 1999 Rugby World Cup and Horan was named a player in the tournament. Horan ended his international career with Australia in 2000 with his 80th Test cap against Argentina, scoring a total of 30 international attempts.

Away from the International Arena

You can not forget the contribution Horan made to Queensland, where he earned a total of 285 caps, many of which participated in the Super 12 competition (now Super 14 and soon Super 15!). Horan's score for Queensland was 285.

After Horan's international retirement in 2000, he headed almost immediately to England, where he spent three seasons with London club Saracens to light up the English Premier League. Last year, Tim Horan accepted the invitation from the Australian Rugby Union to serve as a classic Wallabies statesman. Each year, ARU invites 7 classic Wallabies who have made indelible impressions on Australian rugby to earn. In the same year, Horan also became a member of the Order of Australia, which is a great recognition for any Australian to achieve and shows that his country recognizes him for the great contributions he has made both to Rugby and to Australia.

When I saw Tim Horan when I was a young rugby player, I do not think I will ever forget to see him beat the opponents in midfield and have to be up there with all the great players of all time, a true rugby legend.