Arthur Summons
Arthur James Summons was an Australian representative rugby union and rugby league player, a List of [dual-code rugby internationals|dual-code rugby international] fly-half or five-eighth. He captained the Australian national [rugby league team] in five undefeated test matches from 1962 until 1964 and later also coached the side.
Early life
Summons was born in Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, Australiaand 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 Teachers' College side. He had also played junior rugby league with the Mount Pritchard club.
Rugby union career
He was graded with the Gordon Rugby Union Club and first represented the Wallabies in tour matches against the Springboks in 1956. He toured the British Isles on 1957–58 Australia rugby union [tour of Britain, Ireland and France], making his full debut in the first test match of the tour, against Wales at Cardiff. He played in four tests of the tour; only missing the test match against France. During the 1958 season, he made four test appearances against, firstly, the New Zealand Māori rugby union team and then three times against the All Blacks on the Wallabies' tour of New Zealand. He made two further test appearances, against the visiting British Lions in Sydney in 1959, concluding his rugby union career with a total of ten Wallaby test caps.Rugby league career
With a young family and needing to improve his financial position, Summons signed with Western Suburbs in 1960. He played in the 3 consecutive Wests grand final losses to St George between 1961 and 1963.He first represented Australia in rugby league in 1961, touring New Zealand and appearing in six matches on tour, including two test matches. His international rugby league debut in the first test against New Zealand, in Auckland on 1 July 1961, saw Summons become Australia's 26th dual code rugby international, following Rex Mossop and preceding Michael Cleary.
In 1962, he played in two test match losses against Great Britain before he was appointed captain for the third test with Reg Gasnier and Keith Barnes ruled out. Australia won the game 18–17 following a late Ken Irvine sideline conversion of his own try.
In 1963, Summons led Australia to wins against New Zealand, South Africa and 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 British through the forwards. This was the first series victory on British soil for Australia. He captained Australia to victory in two tests on the French leg of the tour but did not represent Australia again.
He finished his club career in Australia, playing five seasons with the Wagga Magpies and working as Secretary-Manager of the Wagga Wagga Leagues Club. He was made a Life member of the Sydney Cricket Ground.
In February 2008, Summons was named in the list of Australia's 100 greatest players between 1908 and 2007, which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.
In 2008, the Western Suburbs Magpies celebrated their centenary by inducting six inaugural members into the club's Hall of Fame. These six included Summons.