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Australian rugby team arriving in UK at Plymouth, 1908
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Australian rugby team arriving in UK at Plymouth, 1908
Dr. Herbert Paddy Moran, captain of the Australian rugby team arriving at Plymouth for a rugby union tour at club and national level on 19 September 1908. Date: 1908
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Media ID 23273500
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Arriving Australian Australians Herbert Moran Paddy Player Players Rugby Sportsman Sportsmen
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In this evocative photograph, Dr. Herbert Paddy Moran, the charismatic captain of the Australian rugby team, is seen leading his teammates off the S.S. Orontes as they arrive in Plymouth, Devon, on 19 September 1908. The team, known as the "Wallabies," embarked on a historic rugby union tour of the British Isles that would last for two months and included matches against some of the best club and national sides in England, Wales, and Scotland. Dr. Moran, a medical doctor and a former Australian rules footballer, was a towering figure both on and off the field. He stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed over 12 stone, making him an intimidating presence for opposing teams. But he was also a popular figure among his teammates and the rugby community in Australia, known for his leadership, sportsmanship, and sense of humor. The team's arrival in Plymouth marked the beginning of their British tour, which would see them play 34 matches against some of the best rugby teams in the world. They would go on to win 29 of those matches, losing only three and drawing two. Their success on the pitch helped to establish rugby union as a major sport in Australia and cemented the reputation of the Wallabies as a formidable rugby team. This photograph captures a moment of excitement and anticipation as the team sets foot on British soil for the first time, ready to take on the challenges of the tour ahead. The team's determination and confidence are palpable, and the sense of history being made is evident in the crowd of onlookers gathered on the dockside to welcome them to Plymouth.
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