Duel Rugby World Cup Winner 1991 & 1999, 80 Wallaby Tests (1 Test as Captain), 119 Queensland Games.? Tim Horan is possibly the greatest centre Rugby Union has seen. Tim had an incredible 12 year career with the Wallabies.
He earned his first gold jersey as a teenager against the All Blacks in 1989. Australia lost that match but Tim earned the respect of all. Two years later at the 1991 World Cup Tim was crucial to the Wallabies’ success, most notably when he gobbled up and scored from David Campese’s memorable over-the-shoulder, no-look pass in the semi against New Zealand. No try has been given as much replay time since.
Despite a potentially career-ending knee injury in 1994, Tim made a remarkable comeback at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
In 1999, he became Australia’s third most capped player and most capped Australian centre, guiding Australia to its second World Cup victory. He won every award going around, and was announced Player of the Tournament. Tim surprised many the following season when he announced his retirement from international rugby to play out his career with the famous Saracens club in England. Some considered it too soon; Tim knew what he was doing. He wanted to go out a winner. And he did.
Since retiring, Tim has melded his natural leadership abilities and flair for public speaking and utilised them to effect a seamless transition to the next phase of his career. Tim retains an avid interest in the game which was his life for so long and is currently a rugby commentator with Fox Sports during Wallaby Tests and Super Rugby matches and is Business Director for the Sports and Entertainment division of Westpac. He is also a director of Events Queensland and is currently completing an Executive MBA at Bond University.
Tim was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia on Australia Day 2009. He is a member of the Australian Sport ‘Hall of Fame’, the International Rugby ‘Hall of Fame’ and was awarded the Centenary Medal 2001.
Tim is an ambassador for Queensland Spinal Injuries Association?and the Aunties and Uncles Charity.