Full name William Malcolm McLean
Born
February 28, 1918, Ipswich, QLD
Died
December 10, 1996, Sanctuary Cove, Qld (aged 78 years 286 days)
Major teams Australia
Position Flanker
|
Span | Mat | Start | Sub | Pts | Tries | Conv | Pens | Drop | GfM | Won | Lost | Draw | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All Tests | 1946-1947 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Bledisloe Cup | 1946-1947 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Test debut | New Zealand v Australia at Dunedin, Sep 14, 1946 match details |
Last Test | Australia v New Zealand at Sydney, Jun 28, 1947 match details |
Test Statsguru | Main menu | Career summary | Match list | Most points | Most tries | Tournament list |
Bill McLean was a former captain of Australia who led the Wallabies in five Tests in the immediate aftermatch of World War II.
McLean began his vareer with GPS Rugby Club in Brisbane and was selected for the Wallabies' tour to England in 1939. However, the team docked in England on the day war was declared against Germany and the squad returned home without playing a game. Of the tourists only McLean, Keith Windon and Len Smith would go on to claim international honours.
McLean joined the war effort and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force with whom he would see action against the Japanese in Borneo.
He was later picked as captain for the Wallabies' first post-war tour to New Zealand. Injured in the trial McLean missed the first six tour matches but played and captained the Wallabies in the two Tests against the All Blacks and the Test against the New Zealand Maori. The following year he faced the All Blacks again when they visited Australia, captaining the side in the second clash.
McLean was then chosen to lead the Wallabies on their tour of North America and Europe in 1947 but he broke his leg against the Combined Services at Twickenham and the injury eventually curtailed his international career.
He is part of the famous McLean clan that includes his father Doug Snr and elder brother Doug Jnr who represented Australia in both rugby codes. Another brother Jack toured with the Wallabies in 1946 but did not earn a Test cap. A fourth brother Bob had two sons - Jeff and Paul - who also represented the Wallabies. Bill's own son Peter also played for his country.
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