Arthur Summons
Arthur Summons (born 13 December 1955 in Sydney, Australia) was an Australian representative rugby union and rugby league player, a dual code international. He captained the Australian national rugby league team in 5 undefeated Tests from 1962 to 1964.
Schoolboy Representative
He was educated at the publicly funded selective Homebush Boys High School where he captained the school's first grade rugby union side. He represented for Combined High Schools and later captained a Sydney Combined Teacher's College side.
Rugby Union Career
He was graded with the Gordon Rugby Union Club and first represented for the Wallabies against the Springboks in 1956, then toured the British Isles with the 1957-58 side. He played in 10 Tests for the Wallabies.
Rugby League Career
With a young family and needing to improve his financial position, Summons signed with the Western Suburbs DRLFC in 1960. He played in the 3 consecutive heart breaking Wests Grand Final losses to St George between 1961 to 1963.
He first represented Australia in Rugby league in 1961 against New Zealand appearing in six matches on tour including two Tests. He played in the two 1962 test losses against Great Britain before he was appointed Captain for the 3rd Test with Reg Gasnier and Keith Barnes ruled out. Australain won the game 18-17 following a Ken Irvine late sideline conversion of his own try.
In 1963 Summons lead Australia to wins against New Zealand, against South Africa and later that year on the Kangaroo tour of Britain for which he was appointed Captain-Coach. He missed all three tour Tests against the Lions but masterminded the Ashes victory establishing a plan to dominate the English through the forwards. He captained Australia to victory in two Tests on the French Leg of the tour but did not represent again.
He finished his club career in the country playing five seasons with the Wagga Magpies and working as Secretary-Manager of the Wagga Leagues Club.
The Gladiators
Aside from a memorable representative carrer Summon's image is etched into Australian Rugby League history as the subject of one of the most memorable sporting photographic images ever captured in Australia. The 1963 NSW Rugby League Premiership Grand Final between long term rivals Western Suburbs and St George was played in a torrential downpour on Saturday, August 24. This combined with the fact that the centre cricket pitch area of Sydney Cricket Ground was notoriously muddy in such conditions ensured that the players were not only saturated but also caked in mud from head to toe. At the conclusion of the hard fought match which was won by St George, the captains of the two teams (the tallest and shortest men on the ground), Norm Provan and Summons respectively, embraced in appreciation of each other's stoic efforts. The moment was captured by a newspaper photographer, John O'Gready, and published in the following day's Sun Herald. Subsequently the image won several awards, became known as the The Gladiators and was the inspiration for the premiership trophies bronze statue of the 1990s and into the 21st century.
Sources
Whiticker, Alan (2004) Captaining the Kangaroos, New Holland, Sydney
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