The Australian and New South Wales Rugby community is mourning the loss off former Wallabies and New South Wales flanker, Terence Reid, who passed away over the weekend, aged 82.
Terry Reid, Wallaby #463, played five Tests for the Wallabies from 1961 to 1962, which included a tour to South Africa in 1961. He also represented NSW ten times from 1959 to 1962.
Terry was described as “a speedy and devastating tackling breakaway whose brilliant display for NSW (against Queensland) stamped him as the best flank forward in Australia”.
At 179cm and 79kg he was considerably smaller than most of his backrow counterparts, however his speed, ball scavenging, rugby knowledge and tireless determination made up for any differences in size.
Having grown up in Clovelly in Sydney’s east, Terry attended Randwick Boys’ High School and played in the school’s First XV, where he was scouted for selection in the representative NSW Combined High Schools team.
Alongside school rugby, Terry also played for the Randwick Rugby Club Colts and went on to have a long and illustrious rugby career with the ‘Galloping Greens’.
The flanker played 150 games between 1953-62 of which 103 were in First Grade, where he scored seventeen tries. In 1958 he was equal leading try-scorer in First Grade with two other players.
After retiring from rugby, Terry coached the Randwick 4th XV for four years and won four Premierships, the 2nd XV for two years winning one Premiership and the Australian Army Team for one year. In 2001 Terry Reid was honoured as a Life Member of the Randwick Rugby Club.
Former Wallaby and fellow Randwick Rugby Club member, Stephen Hoiles said Terry’s contribution to the game will never be forgotten.
"Terry was a lovely man who cared deeply about the game. His contributions to the Wallabies, NSW and Randwick Rugby Club will be remembered for years to come, and I feel honored to have known him and called him a friend.
“On behalf of all Wallabies, past and present and the entire Rugby community, we pass on our sincere condolences to his wife Marge and the entire Reid family."
Terence's funeral will be held at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, South Chapel, 12 Military Road Matraville on Friday 5 May, starting at 11am.
