Geoff Didier Explained

Geoff Didier
Full Name:Geoffrey Lawrence Didier
Birth Date:10 August 1959
Birth Place:Warrnambool, VIC, Australia
School:Marist College Canberra
Phillip College, Canberra
Position:Front-row
Superyears1:1996
Superapps1:3
Superpoints1:0
Repyears1:1990

Geoffrey Lawrence Didier (born 10 August 1959) is an Australian former rugby union player.[1]

Didier was born in the Victorian city of Warrnambool, moving at the age of seven to Canberra, where he undertook most of his schooling at Marist College, before finishing up at Phillip College. His parents ran a shop in the suburb of Ainslie.[2]

A front-row forward, Didier began playing first-grade in 1978 with the Canberra Royals and would retire as their games record holder, along with winning eight premierships. Earning Wallabies selection for the 1990 tour of New Zealand, Didier had to compete with Tony Daly, Ewen McKenzie and Matt Ryan for the prop positions, and made six uncapped appearances during the tour. He made the initial extended 36-man 1991 Rugby World Cup squad[3]

Didier was given the nickname "Duke" during his time with the Royals, which is the name he gave to his son, Commonwealth Games judoka and MMA fighter Duke Didier.[4]

In 2000, Didier was inducted into the ACT Sport Hall of Fame.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Three Didiers pull on Royals jersey for 70th anniversary . . 21 June 2019 . en-AU.
  2. News: The Duke: Rugby Royalty . . 29 August 1993 . 23 . National Library of Australia.
  3. Web site: Geoffrey Lawrence Didier . classicwallabies.com.au . en.
  4. News: Duke Didier chooses fighting career over potential rugby riches . . 13 July 2014.
  5. WIN TV News. WIN Canberra. 5 July 2000.