Sandy Pearce

Pioneer league forward had one of the most durable career in Test football - representing Australia in 1921 at age 38, some thirteen years after making his Test debut. ‘Sandy’ Pearce defected from Easts RU ranks to play against the NZ 'All Golds' in 1907. An immensely strong and resourceful hooker he was a foundation member of the Easts club and went on to be the first player to surpass 150 first grade games during his career. Pearce played in two Tests against NZ in 1908 and was regarded as the 'iron-man' of the pioneer Kangaroos in 1908-09. He played in 32 matches in England including all three Tests. He went on to play in another Test series against NZ, in 1909, but declined to tour with the 'Australasian' Kangaroos in 1911-12. Pearce returned to the Test arena against England in the 1914 and 1920 Ashes series and made his second Kangaroo Tour in 1921-22. He represented NSW in 1921 (and played for his State against every visiting rugby league nation) some became the oldest Australian Test player in the history of the game (38 years 158 days) when he played in the Second Test against England on the 1921-22 Kangaroo Tour. Known as the ‘Prince of Hookers’ Pearce died prematurely in 1930 less than 10 years after his career ended. In 1932 his son 'Joe' Pearce played for Australia, thus becoming the first father-son combination to represent Australia.