Vale Brother Bob Wallace – Manager of the 1977 ‘Invincibles’.
A Gladiator Has Passed
On behalf of all members of the 1977 Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union team, we express our profound sadness at the passing of Brother Bob Wallace, our beloved manager and mentor who guided us through one of the most remarkable chapters in Australian rugby history.
Brother Bob was the architect behind the scenes of our unprecedented achievement – an undefeated tour of the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, The Netherlands and Japan, where we won all 16 matches, including victories over the national schoolboy teams of Ireland, Wales and England. While we became known as ‘The Invincibles,’ it was Brother Bob who made us invincible through his meticulous planning, unwavering support, and exceptional leadership.
Brother Bob’s contribution to schoolboy rugby extended far beyond our tour. For more than 50 years, he selflessly dedicated his life to the Australian Schools Rugby Union (ASRU) — first as ACT delegate in 1971, then as Honorary Secretary from 1973, and later as President from 1992 to 2018. He was instrumental in establishing the Australian Schools Championships, now in its 53rd year, managing tours, and building the pathways that continue to develop and inspire young rugby talent across Australia today.
During our 1977 tour, Brother Bob managed every detail with remarkable dedication – from negotiating better accommodation when conditions were unsuitable in Northern England, to ensuring Michael O’Connor’s late inclusion in the trials (a decision that proved pivotal as Michael became our highest point scorer). He navigated diplomatic protocols at Buckingham Palace, where we were received by Queen Elizabeth II as the Queen of Australia during her Silver Jubilee year, and handled countless logistical challenges in an era before mobile phones and computers.
But Brother Bob was far more than a manager. He understood that we were teenagers far from home, some from disadvantaged backgrounds, others from private schools, all needing guidance to come together as a team. He fostered the unity that allowed players from diverse backgrounds to gel into an extraordinary unit. When homesickness struck at Christmas 1977 in the RAF station at Saint Athan just outside Cardiff, Wales, he was there with understanding and support.
Together with coach Geoff Mould and assistant Jim Lucey, Brother Bob created an environment where exceptional individual talent could flourish within a team framework. He had to manage an abundance of future stars of the game who would go on to represent Australia in rugby union and rugby league. His philosophy was simple: get the best players on the field and trust them to deliver.
The impact of that tour resonated through Australian sport for decades. As Brother Bob himself noted, we returned to a nation hungry for sporting success, with the Daily Telegraph’s front page proclaiming us ‘The Invincibles.’ We were awarded the “Keys to the City” and a “Welcome home parade” through the streets of Sydney by the then Lord Mayor. Many of us were fortunate to go on and play for the Wallabies, and the success experienced by all of the members of the 1977 team helped revitalise Australian rugby and inspired a generation.
For those of us who did have the honour of going on to represent our state and/or country at a senior level, to a man, we all believe that the greatest team we ever played in was the 1977 Australian Schoolboys Rugby team.
Brother Bob remained connected to our team throughout his life. At every reunion, his presence reminded us not just of what we achieved, but of the values he instilled: respect for opponents, humility in victory, unity in purpose, and the importance of representing our country with honour.
Bob Wallace stands as one of the most influential figures in Australian rugby history. Through the pathways he helped create, more than 200 Wallabies, 147 Australian Sevens players, 38 representatives of other countries, 9 Kangaroos, and household names in Australian sport have been nurtured and developed, not to mention the tens of thousands of other school children who have also benefited just from their participation in the Australian Championships held annually by the ASRU.
We remember Brother Bob for his dry humour, his fierce protection of our welfare, his ability to see potential in us that we couldn’t see in ourselves, his wisdom, and his genuine care for each of us as individuals. Whether securing free phone calls home through a Welsh butcher’s shop, finding proper kit for late replacement Charlie Lester, or standing on the sideline at Twickenham in the fog to better support us in the final test, Brother Bob was always there when we needed him.
A trusted, caring, empathetic, humble, selfless and highly intelligent man, Bob has positively influenced all our lives and made us better people.
To Brother Bob’s religious community, his family, friends, and all who knew him, we extend our deepest sympathies. We were privileged to have him guide us through those magical weeks in 1977-78, but his influence extended far beyond that tour. He helped shape us and countless others, not just as rugby players, but as men.
As we said then and maintain today, we may have been the ones on the field, but Brother Bob Wallace was the one who made us invincible.
Brother Bob is and was family. When our second rower, George Gavalas, visited Brother Bob in the hospital last week, the nurse asked him if he was Bob’s son. His reply was: “Yes – one of 28 of them.”
Our team remains as tight as ever after 48 years, and we are forever grateful for the life lessons we learnt from Brother Bob and for his dedication to the cause of Australian Rugby and Australian Schools rugby in particular. He remains an inspiration to us all.
Rest in peace, Brother Bob.
From all of us who were honoured to call you our manager, mentor, and friend – thank you for everything.
The 1977 Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union Team – ‘The Invincibles’
Brad Allan, Glenn Bailey, Tony D’Arcy, Michael Egan, Gary Ella, Glen Ella, Mark Ella, George Gavalas, John Hancock, Michael Hawker, Merrick Illett, Richard Leslie, Darrell Lester, Wally Lewis. Andrew MacLean, John Matherson, Michael Maxwell, Peter McPherson, Tony Melrose (Captain), Warwick Melrose, Ian Miller, Shane Nightingale, Michael O’Connor, Graham Reed, Chris Roche, Anthony Ryan, Phillip Tuck, Dominic Vaughan, Max Williams.
Photos: Top left and right: Press clippings and the team celebrating after defeating England Schools 31-9 at Twickenham. Top centre: Tony Melrose, Chris Roche, Glen Ella, Andrew MacLean, Tony Ryan, Peter McPherson, Merrick Ilett, Michael Maxwell, Gary Ella, Dominic Vaughan, Warwick Melrose, Phil Tuck and Michael O’Connor with Br Wallace at the team’s 2022 annual reunion in Tasmania. Feature photos of Br Bob enjoying the 2022 Australian Schools Championships.
Australian Schools Rugby Union
Br Bob’s service will be held in Sydney. Details will be posted on this website. For those wishing to forward messages of condolence or memories, please email, including your name, to: [email protected]
