Tony Shaw was known as a hard and uncompromising forward who led the Wallabies on 15 occasions, including the famous 1980 Bledisloe Cup series win that saw the Australians retain the trans-Tasman silverware for a second straight year.

Shaw enjoyed a remarkable career in rugby. From the Gregory Terrace Rugby nursery, Shaw showed from an early age he was capable of reaching the top level. In 1973 he put on a powerful display for Queensland against Tonga, and played himself into the Wallabies squad for a nine-match tour of England, Wales and Italy.

His outstanding form warranted selection for five of the nine games, including the Tests against Wales and England. In 1974 Shaw was in the Queensland team against the visiting All Blacks.But realising his preferred No.8 position was out of reach at the time due to the presence of the legendary Mark Loane Shaw decided to concentrate on flanker and second row.

When Japan visited in 1975, and England followed for two Tests, Shaw once more secured his Wallabies place, this time on the side of the scrum.His "go-forward" style was the epitome of the confrontational mentality of the Australian pack and together with Mark Loane and Greg Cornelsen, created what is considered by many to be one of the best back row combinations in Australian Rugby history.

In 1978, Daryl Haberecht took over as Australia's coach, and began discussions with Shaw regarding the captaincy. Even though Shaw was not captain of his club side or Queensland at the time, he was given the honour of leading out the Test team.

Under his leadership, Australia won the two Welsh Tests on home soil and Shaw retained the captaincy for the 1978 tour of NZ, where he would play 11 of the 13 matches, including the three Tests. The first two were lost 12-13 and 6-22. Prior to the third and final Test coach Daryl Haberecht suffered a heart attack and was hospitalised.

The team rallied in his absence, and in a remarkable display overran NZ 30-16 with Greg Cornelsen scoring a record four tries. It is reported that the reason for the Wallabies turn around in form was thanks to an inspirational on field speech from Shaw.

In 1979 Dave Brockhoff took over the coaching duties and appointed Mark Loane as the captain for the one and only Test against the All Blacks where the Wallabies won 12-6 to win the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in decades. With Loane's decision to go to South Africa in 1980, Shaw returned as captain and in a remarkable home series against the All Blacks, Australia ran out victors by two Tests to one.

Shaw was retained as captain for the 1980 tour of Fiji, the home games with France in 1981, and the 1981-82 Wallabies tour of the British Isles.

On July 10 1982 at the Sydney Cricket Ground Shaw played his final Test for the Wallabies against Scotland and while there were appearance for his state against the All Blacks and Argentina the curtain was drawn on a remarkable Test career. He captained the Wallabies in 15 Tests, and Australia in 23 other matches.