Australian Rugby
Former Wallabies wing McLean dies
Scrum.com
August 6, 2010

Former Wallabies winger Jeff McLean has died aged 63 after a long battle against cancer.

McLean played 13 Tests between 1971 and 1974 and was part of one of Australian rugby's most distinguished families. The McLean clan produced six Wallabies. Coincidentally McLean's final Test, against New Zealand in Sydney in 1974, was his younger brother Paul's first.

He also played a key role in Queensland's rise in the 1970s, representing his state for five years before a badly broken leg in a game between Brisbane and Queensland Country ended his career prematurely.

"Jeff was an amazingly talented rugby player who achieved much during a relatively short representative career with Queensland and Australia," Queensland Rugby Union president Tony Shaw said. "He played against the best teams in the world in his 13 Tests, excelling in all of them.

"He would undoubtedly have gone on to an even more highly decorated career had not a badly broken leg brought a premature end to his playing career. The rugby world is poorer for his passing."

The Wallabies, who face the All Blacks in Christchurch on Saturday, will wear black armbands as a mark of respect for McLean. Their hosts will also pay tribute to a favourite son, 'double All Black' Eric Tindill, as well as fallen soldier Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell, prior to kick-off.

© Scrum.com

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