Former Wallabies captain Sir Nicholas Shehadie dies aged 92
AUSTRALIAN rugby is mourning the loss of one of its most towering figures, Sir Nicholas Shehadie, who has died aged 92.
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AUSTRALIAN rugby is mourning the loss of one of its most towering figures, Sir Nicholas Shehadie, who died last night aged 92.
Shehadie was a much-respected Wallaby between 1946-58, having played 30 Tests and over 100 games for Australia. He also captained the Wallabies.
Shehadie later served as the president of the Australian Rugby Union as well; a position that saw him play a leading role in the creation of the Rugby World Cup in 1987.
Shehadie and others fought opposition from northern hemisphere naysayers and the World Cup proved a huge success. It is now the game’s flagship event.
The husband of former NSW Governor General Dame Marie Bashir, Shehadie also had a distinguished public life. He served as Sydney’s Lord Mayor between 1973 and 1975, and was the chairman of SBS for two decades between 1981 and 1999.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott tweeted “Sir Nicholas Shehadie improved everything he was involved with.”
“He improved rugby as Wallaby captain, improved our city as Lord Mayor and even managed to improve SBS as its chairman,” Abbott wrote.
“He will be much missed by the Sunday morning walkers at Balmoral where he was a fixture until quite recently. My deepest condolences to Dame Marie who has lost a wonderful partner.”
Broadcaster Alan Jones, who was Wallabies coach under Shehadie’s administration, said on radio: “(He was) a wonderful, wonderful Australian ... a beautiful man. Our thoughts are very much with Marie and the family, lovely people.”
Politicians and business figures paid tribute to Shehadie.
“Deeply saddened to hear the news of Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE, passing away,” SBS CEO Michael Ebeid tweeted.
“Was the SBS Chairman 1981-99, 18 yrs and instrumental in our formation. A great Australian on many levels. Thoughts are with Marie Bashir and their family.”
The son of Lebanese immigrants, Shehadie was born in 1926 and grew up in Coogee. He began playing for Randwick as a teenager and was quickly identified as a powerful forward.
Shehadie debuted for NSW in 1946 as a second rower but by the time he first toured for Australia in 1947-48, he’d moved into the front row. He debuted for the Wallabies in 1949 and within a few years was regarded as one of the world’s finest front rowers.
He captained the Wallabies four times in his 30 Tests, then a record high tally. With long tours the norm at the time, Shehadie was also the first player to register over 100 games for Australia. He finished with 114.
Shehadie moved into local politics soon after retirement and after first serving as an alderman on the City of Sydney Council in 1962, he became Lord Mayor in 1973. He held the office when the Queen opened the Opera House that same year.
Shehadie was knighted in 1976 for his Mayoral service, becoming only the second Wallaby to receive the honour after Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop.
Shehadie continued to play an influential role in sport, as well.
He served as a trustee on the Sydney Cricket Ground trust between 1978 and 2001, and was chairman from 1990.
During his time on the trust, the SCG had lights installed and the Sydney Football Stadium was constructed, which now has a stand named in his honour.
Shehadie became chairman of the NSWRU from 1979 and served as president of the ARU between 1980-87.
During this time he played a leading role in establishing plans for an inaugural Rugby World Cup, despite predictions of doom and gloom from the Home Unions.
Shehadie’s lobbying helped the vote pass in 1985 and he was appointed joint chairman on the Rugby World Cup committee.
He was made a member of the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011.