Nicholas Michael Shehadie

Nicholas Michael Shehadie

Sir Nicholas Michael Shehadie was born in Coogee, New South Wales, on 15 November 1926. He holds a unique record as being the first player from the southern hemisphere to be selected for two overseas tours to the British Isles. In 1947/48 he came with Australia as a second-row forward; ten years later he returned as his country's prop forward. In recognition of his historic achievement the Barbarians invited him to be the first player to appear against his own country for the Barbarians in the end-of-tour game at Cardiff Arms Park on 22 February 1958. By the time he retired from playing, Nick Shehadie had completed a record 114 games for the Wallabies, including 30 test matches. He returned to Europe as manager of the 1981/82 Wallabies and later became joint-chairman of the organising committee of the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987 and a life member of the Australian Rugby Union. He was lord mayor of Sydney between 1973 and 1975. In June 2009 Sir Nicholas Shehadie presented the jerseys to the Barbarian team before they played Australia at Sydney Football Stadium.