St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

OT038

Touch judge's flag. One of a pair. Swansea v Australia 30th Octber 1984 at St Helen's. Gold background with Swansea 'Osprey' and Wallaby motifs in diagonally opposite corners. "Swansea - v - Australia 30th Oct 1984" in yellow. Reverse side has the Swansea colours of white, with facing colours of maroon and navy stripes.

Touch Judge flag

CIC

1984-1985

This is a touch judge's flag from the Swansea v Australia match played on 30th October 1984, which Australia won by 17 points to 6. Swansea's points came from an Arthur Emyr try and Mark Wyatt penalty. Australia scored tries through David Codey and Phil Cox, with Roger Gould converting both and outside-half Mike Hawker dropping a goal. Swansea at that time in the season had only lost 3 from 14 matches. But the 1984 wallabies tourists had talent in abundance and overturned Swansea's lead with 2 tries before half-time. They increased their lead in the second-half before the floodlights failed and the match was abandoned as an Austraia win. This tour featured newcomer Nick Farr-Jones at scrum-half and a young David Campese as well as rising star Michael Lynagh, Roger Gouldand the effective back-row Simon Poidevin. They won all four tests on the tour, and 9 of the 14 other matches played, drawing one game. They were the first Australian side to achieve the 'grand slam' of tests in Britain and Ireland.