Peter McGrath is an Australian former professional

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as rugby league in English-speaking countries and rugby 13/XIII in non-Anglophone Europe, is a contact sport, full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular Rugby league playin ...

footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. McGrath played for

Canberra Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...

in the NSWRL competition. McGrath was a foundation player for Canberra playing in the club's first ever game.

Background

McGrath was born in

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...

and played with the Queanbeyan Blues in the country rugby league competition before signing with Canberra.

Playing career

In 1982, McGrath joined newly admitted Canberra and played in the club's first ever game, a 37–7 loss against South Sydney at

Redfern Oval Redfern Oval is an Australian football ground, in the Sydney suburb of , New South Wales, Australia. The South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Football Club played at Redfern Oval between 1948 and 1987. Rabbitoh supporters often refer to Redfer ...

. McGrath is credited with scoring the club's first points. Canberra would only go on to win 4 games in 1982 and finished last on the table claiming the wooden spoon. As of 2019, this is the only time that Canberra has finished last.

Post playing

McGrath went on to become the chairman of

ACT Brumbies The ACT Brumbies (known from 2005 to 2022 as simply the Brumbies) is an Australian professional rugby union team based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), The team competes in Super Rugby and named for the brumby, feral horses wh ...

and also the chairman of the Australian Rugby Union. McGrath currently works as a lawyer in Canberra. In 2022, McGrath was appointed as a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

(AM) in the

2022 Australia Day Honours The 2022 Australia Day Honours are appointments to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by Australian citizens. The list was announced on 26 January 2022 by the Governor General of Australia, David Hurley. The Australia ...

for "significant service to rugby union as an administrator, and to tertiary education".

References

Canberra Raiders players Australian rugby league players Rugby league five-eighths Rugby league centres Rugby league fullbacks Living people Members of the Order of Australia 1955 births Rugby league players from Canberra Country New South Wales rugby league team players Queanbeyan Blues players 20th-century Australian sportsmen {{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-1950s-stub