Biography
Thomas Anthony Lawton, born on November 27, 1962, in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, is a former Australian rugby union player. He played as a hooker and had a distinguished career at both club and international levels. Coming from a prominent rugby family, his grandfather, Tom Lawton Sr., was a former captain of the Australian national team, the Wallabies, in the 1920s.
Teams Played For & Years
- Souths Rugby (1980-1993) – Played for his entire club career and won four Queensland State Championships.
- Queensland (1984-1992) – Represented the state 42 times during his career.
- Natal (1989-1990) – Played in South Africa, where he helped Natal win the Currie Cup.
International Caps
Lawton represented Australia (Wallabies) 41 times between 1983 and 1992, scoring 16 points. His debut for the national team came in 1983 against France in Clermont-Ferrand.
Most Important Moments in His Career
- 1984 Grand Slam Tour Victory – A key player in the Australian team that won all four matches against England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland.
- 1987 Rugby World Cup – Selected for the first-ever Rugby World Cup, where Australia finished fourth.
- 1989 British and Irish Lions Tour – Played his last major international series against the Lions.
- 1992 Final Wallabies Tour – Represented Australia for the last time during the tour to South Africa.
- Post-Retirement Achievements – Became a coach for Souths Rugby, leading them to two Queensland championships in 1994 and 2000.
After retiring, Lawton transitioned into a career in retirement funds management while maintaining his involvement in rugby as a coach. His legacy remains as one of Australia’s notable hookers, contributing significantly to the success of Australian rugby during the 1980s and early 1990s.