HALL OF FAMER PART OF RUGBY REBELLION

Thursday, 8 September 2005

THE career of Cumnock-born dual international Chris McKivat, who was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame on Tuesday night, is central to a new book.

McKivat is still the only player to captain Australia in both league and union and the influence he had on the two codes is detailed in "The Rugby Rebellion – The Divide of League and Union" by Sean Fagan.

McKivat, who was educated by the Patrician Brothers in Orange and captained the Our Boys rugby club from 1901-1904, was one of six inductees announced at the Dally M awards evening in Sydney.

McKivat was inducted along with Jimmy Craig, Duncan Thompson, Brian Bevan, Brian Carlson and the only living inductee Ron Coote.

A talented half-back, McKivat first represented Australia in union in 1907 against New Zealand after moving from Orange to Sydney where he played with Glebe.

The following year he toured England with the Wallabies and captained the side to a gold medal in the 1908 Olympic Games. At the end of the tour in 1909 McKivat defected to rugby league along with 10 other Wallabies.

McKivat's change of codes was fruitful as he played his first league test in 1910 under Dally Messenger. McKivat captained the Australian league team during the 1911-1912 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain.

In 1921 and 1922 he coached North Sydney to the club's only two premiership titles.

Copies of the book are available from local bookstores or www.rugbyrebellion.com