Vale Dr Herbert John Soloman

15 October 1929 – 16 March 2020

The Foundation and the Rugby community is mourning the loss of Rugby Life Member Dr Herbert John Soloman after a long battle with illness.

Born and raised in Sydney, John played rugby for The Scots College before graduating to first grade rugby with Sydney University, and then playing for New South Wales in 1948.

A versatile back, John became a regular in the national side. He played 14 tests for Australia, eight as captain, and was part of the first Wallabies team to win a Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand in 1949.

However, he will be forever remembered for the part he played in one of the most extraordinary sporting gestures ever seen on the Rugby field.

After the Wallaby’s win over the Springboks at Newlands in 1953, John was famously ‘chaired’ from the field on the shoulders of Springboks Chris Koch and Ernst Dinkelmann to the applause of the Cape Town crowd.

John Soloman made a significant contribution to Rugby both at a club and national level. He was a much-admired and astute leader and, as a result, was inducted into the Wallaby Hall of Fame in 2016.

Our condolences to the Soloman family at this time.