Digby Ioane

A try-scorer on Test debut against Wales in 2007, DIGBY IOANE repeated the feat a year later against the same opponent at Cardiff, which capped off a notable 2008 Spring Tour. The New Zealand-born but Melbourne-raised Queensland winger forced his way back into the Test side on the trip, featuring in three of the five Test matches played. This came after he was selected in the first Qantas Wallabies squad named by new coach Robbie Deans, but was not required initially, being released to Australia A for the 2008 domestic programme. Patience has been a major feature of Ioane’s career to date. He had to wait 18 months for his Test debut in 2007, after first being selected for Australia as a 20-year-old on the 2005 Spring Tour. The powerful winger has appeared for two Investec Super 14 franchises, being a foundation member of the Western Force in 2006. He finished up with five tries across his two seasons with the Western Australian-based side, where he appeared on 23 occasions, before linking up with Queensland in 2008.

2002-2003   Appeared for Australian Schools in consecutive years while attending Gregory Terrace.

2004   Represented the Australian Under-19s at the iRB World Championship in South Africa.

2005   Signed for the Queensland Reds on a full-time contract before touring Argentina with the Australian Under-21s. He was then a surprise inclusion in the 31-man Wallabies Spring Tour squad and played against the French Barbarians in Bordeaux.

2006   Joined the Western Force for their inaugural Super 14 campaign, playing 12 matches and scoring two tries in his first full season of professional rugby. Ioane then attended the world Under-21 championship, performing well enough to gain a nomination for the iRB Under-21 Player of the Year award. He also appeared for Australia A during its two wins over Fiji, scoring four tries in the two matches.

2007   Started seven matches for the Western Force and scored two tries after being omitted for the first five weeks of the season. Made his Test debut against Wales at Brisbane and marked the occasion by scoring a try.

2008   Rejoined the Queensland Reds for the Investec Super 14, winning a call up in Robbie Deans’ maiden Qantas Wallabies squad. While he didn’t appear during the domestic Test program, Ioane was employed by Australia A during the Pacific Nations tournament, performing well enough to earn his second ‘shot’ at a Wallaby Spring Tour. Featured in three Tests on that tour, scoring his second Test try during the match in Cardiff.