Clyde Rathbone
Encyclopedia
Clyde Rathbone nicknamed "Rattlebones", is an Australia
n rugby union
player. He previously played for the Brumbies in Super 14
and internationally for Australia
. He began his Australia career as a centre, but now mainly plays wing.
to victory in the 2002 U21 Rugby World Cup. In the same year, he made his debut in the then-Super 12 for the Sharks. However, at the end of 2002, he chose to move to Australia, for which he was qualified to play by virtue of having an Australia-born paternal grandmother.
Rathbone joined the Brumbies for the 2003 season. After considerable speculation in the rugby world over which country he would represent at Test level, he opted for the Wallabies, which resulted in Rathbone being heavily criticised in much of the South African press. Rathbone made his Test debut in June 2004 against Scotland
, and went on to score a hat trick
of tries against England
the following week. His form in the June Tests earned him a starting wing position for that year's Tri Nations Series. During that competition, he rubbed salt into the South African wounds by scoring a match-winning try against his former countrymen in Perth. When the Wallabies went on tour that November, he scored a pair of tries against Scotland at Murrayfield
, but suffered a groin injury that kept him out of the year's final Test against England.
In 2005,Rathbone was injured for most of the year, missing the Autumn series of Tests. In these tests, wingers Drew Mitchell
and Mark Gerrard
played well, and cemented the Wallaby wing spots ahead of the incumbent Rathbone.
In 2006 Rathbone has had a relatively quiet Super 14 season, but over the summer break of 2005-06 he got married to his long time girlfriend in their hometown of Durban
. Rathbone's family have announced that they will relocate to Canberra this year, with both of his brothers Rory and Luke enrolled in Marist College Canberra
.
In 2008, after 15 months out of rugby due to knee surgery for a torn patella tendon, Rathbone signed a Shute Shield contract with the east-Sydney based team, Easts.
In 2009, after many injuries that have seen him sidelined, he decided to retire.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He previously played for the Brumbies in Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
and internationally for Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
. He began his Australia career as a centre, but now mainly plays wing.
Career
He spent his entire childhood in Durban and played most of his rugby as a South African junior, representing South African Schools and even captaining the under-21 national teamSouth Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
to victory in the 2002 U21 Rugby World Cup. In the same year, he made his debut in the then-Super 12 for the Sharks. However, at the end of 2002, he chose to move to Australia, for which he was qualified to play by virtue of having an Australia-born paternal grandmother.
Rathbone joined the Brumbies for the 2003 season. After considerable speculation in the rugby world over which country he would represent at Test level, he opted for the Wallabies, which resulted in Rathbone being heavily criticised in much of the South African press. Rathbone made his Test debut in June 2004 against Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
, and went on to score a hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
of tries against England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
the following week. His form in the June Tests earned him a starting wing position for that year's Tri Nations Series. During that competition, he rubbed salt into the South African wounds by scoring a match-winning try against his former countrymen in Perth. When the Wallabies went on tour that November, he scored a pair of tries against Scotland at Murrayfield
Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
, but suffered a groin injury that kept him out of the year's final Test against England.
In 2005,Rathbone was injured for most of the year, missing the Autumn series of Tests. In these tests, wingers Drew Mitchell
Drew Mitchell
Drew Alan Mitchell is an Australian rugby union player. He usually plays on the wing or as fullback. Up to the 2006 season he played for the Queensland Reds. He played for the Western Force for the 2007–2009 Super 14 seasons. In 2010 he is playing for the New South Wales Waratahs franchise...
and Mark Gerrard
Mark Gerrard
Mark Gerrard is an Australian professional rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby competition. In 2011 he was one of 10 players nominated to become the competition's Super Rugby player of the year....
played well, and cemented the Wallaby wing spots ahead of the incumbent Rathbone.
In 2006 Rathbone has had a relatively quiet Super 14 season, but over the summer break of 2005-06 he got married to his long time girlfriend in their hometown of Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. Rathbone's family have announced that they will relocate to Canberra this year, with both of his brothers Rory and Luke enrolled in Marist College Canberra
Marist College Canberra
Marist College Canberra is an all-boys independent Catholic school school founded in 1968. The college is situated on 15 hectares and located in the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra. The college provides boys from years 4-12 with a well-rounded education. Founded by Marist Brothers, it...
.
In 2008, after 15 months out of rugby due to knee surgery for a torn patella tendon, Rathbone signed a Shute Shield contract with the east-Sydney based team, Easts.
In 2009, after many injuries that have seen him sidelined, he decided to retire.