Tim Horan
Encyclopedia
Tim Horan AM
(born 18 May 1970) is a former Australian rugby union
footballer. He played for the Queensland Reds
in the Super 12
, and represented Australia
, he was one of the best centres in the world throughout the 1990s due to his attacking prowess, formidable defence and playmaking ability.
As well as inside centre, Horan also played fly-half and got one cap on the wing.
Horan's rugby career began at Toowoomba's Downlands College
under First XV coach John Elders, a former coach of England. The Downlands First XV of 1987 was undefeated throughout the year, including matches against Sydney's Kings
, Riverview and St Joseph's
colleges. The side also included future Wallabies Brett Johnstone, Brett Robinson
, Garrick Morgan
, and Peter Ryan
.
He initially partnered Jason Little
, with whom he wrote a book, Perfect Union and later in his career, Daniel Herbert
. Horan and Little met when they were 13-years-old, rooming together for a rugby league representative team. Horan played a role in Australia
winning the 1999 Rugby World Cup. He was voted player of the tournament (winning himself a year's worth of Guinness for scoring the fastest try).
His debut came in 1989 against New Zealand, where he impressed his opposite number, Joe Stanley, so much that Stanley gave Horan his test jersey and told him to keep his own as it was his first. In his next test, he and Little marked the experienced French pair of Franck Mesnel
and Philippe Sella
, and Horan scored his first two test tries. That year, in what has become a famous incident in Australian Rugby, both he and Jason Little were subjected to a mock bar room ceremony in which they pledged not to defect to Rugby League
.
After the World Cup in 1991, in which he scored four tries and a successful Bledisloe Cup
in 1992, the Wallabies endured a mixed 1993. 1994 saw his career nearly end with a horrific knee injury in the Super 10 final and he would spend over a year in rehabilitation before making the squad to the 1995 World Cup defence in South Africa.
In 1996 he captained the side for the first time and also played at flyhalf. He missed the 61-22 loss to South Africa but returned in for a 15-all draw with England, helping Ben Tune and George Gregan
score a try apiece.
He peaked again for the 1999 World Cup against South Africa in the semi final. Despite suffering from severe food poisoning the night before the match, he played against South Africa in a 27-22 overtime win. This was followed by the second Wallaby World Cup win of his career.
2000 was to be his final test year and was affected by injuries. He signed for English club Saracens
and began a career as a newspaper columist and broadcaster. Horan is currently a Banker for Westpac Banking Corporation. He is an ambassador for Spinal Injuries Association, speaking to school children regarding prevention of spinal injuries. Horan is also an ambassador for Aunties and Uncles - a non-profit organisation offering friendship, role-modelling and support for children in single parent or parentless families. In 2009 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia
.
Horan's father is Mike Horan
, Member of Queensland's Parliament for Toowoomba South
.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 18 May 1970) is a former Australian rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer. He played for the Queensland Reds
Queensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
in the Super 12
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
, and represented Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
, he was one of the best centres in the world throughout the 1990s due to his attacking prowess, formidable defence and playmaking ability.
As well as inside centre, Horan also played fly-half and got one cap on the wing.
Horan's rugby career began at Toowoomba's Downlands College
Downlands College
Downlands College, officially Downlands Sacred Heart College, is a private, secondary, coeducational, day and boarding school in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Founded by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1931, the College began as a boarding school for boys with a total enrolment of...
under First XV coach John Elders, a former coach of England. The Downlands First XV of 1987 was undefeated throughout the year, including matches against Sydney's Kings
The King's School, Sydney
The King's School is an independent Anglican, day and boarding school for boys in North Parramatta in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831, it is Australia's oldest school and forms one of the nine "Great Public Schools" of New South Wales. Situated within a site, Gowan Brae,...
, Riverview and St Joseph's
St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill
St Joseph's College is a Roman Catholic, Secondary, day and boarding school for boys. It is located in Hunters Hill, a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
colleges. The side also included future Wallabies Brett Johnstone, Brett Robinson
Brett Robinson
Brett Robinson is a former Australian Rugby union player and sports executive with the Australian Rugby Union. Robinson was captain of the ACT Brumbies in the Super 12 competition and played 16 Test matches for the Australia national rugby union team, the "Wallabies". Robinson attended Downlands...
, Garrick Morgan
Garrick Morgan
Garrick Morgan , is an Australian former rugby footballer, who played for the Australian team from 1992 to 1997. He played second row .In 1993, he was voted the world's best player by the newspaper l'Équipe....
, and Peter Ryan
Peter Ryan (rugby league)
Peter Ryan is an Australian former rugby league and rugby union footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. A Queensland State of Origin representative forward, he played ten seasons with the Brisbane Broncos and finished his career playing rugby union for the ACT Brumbies.Ryan attended Downlands...
.
He initially partnered Jason Little
Jason Little (rugby player)
Jason Little was born 26 August 1970 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. He won 75 caps with one as captain playing at centre for the Australian rugby union side between 1989 and 2000. He also won caps on the wing later in his career...
, with whom he wrote a book, Perfect Union and later in his career, Daniel Herbert
Daniel Herbert
Daniel Herbert was born 6 February 1974 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He won 67 caps playing at centre for the Australian rugby union side since 1994. He made his test debut at the age of 20 against Ireland on 11 June 1994. He battled Jason Little for a state and test spot alongside Tim...
. Horan and Little met when they were 13-years-old, rooming together for a rugby league representative team. Horan played a role in Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
winning the 1999 Rugby World Cup. He was voted player of the tournament (winning himself a year's worth of Guinness for scoring the fastest try).
His debut came in 1989 against New Zealand, where he impressed his opposite number, Joe Stanley, so much that Stanley gave Horan his test jersey and told him to keep his own as it was his first. In his next test, he and Little marked the experienced French pair of Franck Mesnel
Franck Mesnel
Franck Mesnel is a former French rugby union footballer. He played as a fly-half and as a centre.Mesnel played for Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Racing Club de France...
and Philippe Sella
Philippe Sella
Philippe Sella is a French former rugby union player, who held the record for most international appearances until beaten by Jason Leonard. He became a member of the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1999, and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2008.Sella joined Saracens in 1996 from French side Agen...
, and Horan scored his first two test tries. That year, in what has become a famous incident in Australian Rugby, both he and Jason Little were subjected to a mock bar room ceremony in which they pledged not to defect to Rugby League
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
.
After the World Cup in 1991, in which he scored four tries and a successful Bledisloe Cup
Bledisloe Cup
Rugby Union's Bledisloe Cup is contested by the Australia national rugby union team and New Zealand national rugby union team. It is named after Lord Bledisloe, the former Governor-General of New Zealand who donated the trophy in 1931. The trophy was designed in New Zealand by Nelson Isaac, and...
in 1992, the Wallabies endured a mixed 1993. 1994 saw his career nearly end with a horrific knee injury in the Super 10 final and he would spend over a year in rehabilitation before making the squad to the 1995 World Cup defence in South Africa.
In 1996 he captained the side for the first time and also played at flyhalf. He missed the 61-22 loss to South Africa but returned in for a 15-all draw with England, helping Ben Tune and George Gregan
George Gregan
George Musarurwa Gregan AM is an Australian rugby union halfback who has made more appearances for his national team than any other player in the sport's history....
score a try apiece.
He peaked again for the 1999 World Cup against South Africa in the semi final. Despite suffering from severe food poisoning the night before the match, he played against South Africa in a 27-22 overtime win. This was followed by the second Wallaby World Cup win of his career.
2000 was to be his final test year and was affected by injuries. He signed for English club Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
and began a career as a newspaper columist and broadcaster. Horan is currently a Banker for Westpac Banking Corporation. He is an ambassador for Spinal Injuries Association, speaking to school children regarding prevention of spinal injuries. Horan is also an ambassador for Aunties and Uncles - a non-profit organisation offering friendship, role-modelling and support for children in single parent or parentless families. In 2009 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
.
Horan's father is Mike Horan
Mike Horan
Michael James "Mike" Horan is an Australian politician representing the seat of Toowoomba South in the Queensland Legislative Assembly since 18 May 1991. He was the Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries and now serves as Opposition Whip...
, Member of Queensland's Parliament for Toowoomba South
Electoral district of Toowoomba South
The district of Toowoomba South is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland. It was created with the 1972 redistribution, and replaced the abolished Toowoomba East....
.
- Played 80 test caps
- 114 state caps
- 130 points
- 40 tries