The Australian Rugby community has today paid tribute to Wallaby 397, Jack Carroll who passed away at the age of 94 this week.
A jack of all trades forward, Carroll played in every position except hooker across his 12 non- Test caps and one Test cap for Australia.
In 1950 he was selected to represent NSW against Queensland at flanker and just five days later was selected to play against the British & Irish Lions in a tour match in Sydney.
Carroll made his Test debut against South Africa in 1953 and throughout his playing career went on tours to South Africa and New Zealand.
Born in Sydney, Carroll attended Sydney Technical High School where he learned the fundamentals of carpentry. Throughout his club Rugby days, Carroll played for Eastern Suburbs where he mastered the fundamentals of the game and became a club stalwart.
In 1962, Carroll came out of retirement to once again play for Easts when the club had languished to 9th in Sydney’s premiership competition. Carroll played in all 20 matches of the season, to help lead the club to the Semi-Finals, where at the age of 37 he hung up his playing boots.
NSW Rugby CEO Andrew Hore said of the player who played six games for NSW: “It is with sadness that we learnt of the passing of a man who simply loved the game. The teams he played for not only benefited from his versatility as a player, but he was a good man who made an immense contribution to his club, State and country. Our thoughts are with his family during this sad time.”
Classic Wallabies Manager, Stephen Hoiles said: “On behalf of the Classic Wallabies and Australian Rugby Community we would like to pass on our condolences to Jack’s family at this difficult time.
“As a Wallaby Jack was a robust forward who was always willing to put his hand up to play anywhere to help his team mates and his country. He was the living embodiment of Rugby’s values of teamwork and inclusion.
“The thoughts of the Australian Rugby community are with the Carroll family at this difficult time.”
