Steve Merrick Explained

Steve Merrick
Full Name:Steven Paul Merrick
Birth Date:22 November 1968
Birth Place:Singleton, NSW, Australia
Position:Scrum-half
Repyears1:1995
Repcaps1:2
Reppoints1:0

Steven Paul Merrick (born 22 November 1968) is an Australian former rugby union international.

Merrick played only rugby league while growing up in Singleton and didn't switch codes until he was 18. He played rugby union for Singleton in the Hunter Valley competition and was a New South Wales country representative.[1]

In 1995, Merrick was Australia's scrum-half in two Bledisloe Cup Tests against New Zealand, taking the place of George Gregan. He had debuted for the New South Wales Waratahs earlier that year and his promotion to the Wallabies side was one of many made after team's poor showing at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.[2]

Merrick turned down a lucrative contract from the ARFU to return to Singleton, where he worked as a coal truck driver. The contract would have required he be based in Sydney and play for the Waratahs rather than Singleton.[3] [4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Steven Paul Merrick . classicwallabies.com.au . en.
  2. News: Wallaby surprise factor a worry as Kiwi coach seeks solutions . . 21 July 1995 . 24 September 2023 . 28 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: Skene . Patrick . The forgotten story of ... Steve Merrick, rugby union’s last amateur . The Guardian . 13 August 2015.
  4. News: Merrick quits, much to Gregan's surprise. . 11 August 1995 . 24 September 2023 . 28 . National Library of Australia.