Michael Hawker
{{Short description|Australian rugby union international}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Michael Hawker
| image =
| caption =
| full_name = Michael John Hawker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|10|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Wellington, NSW, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
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| occupation =
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| relatives =
| position = Centre
| repyears1 = 1980–87
| repteam1 = {{nrut|Australia}}
| repcaps1 = 25
| reppoints1 = 32
}}
Michael John Hawker AM (born 11 October 1959) is an Australian former rugby union international. He was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia in 2010 for services to the financial industry and community.{{cite web |title=Michael Hawker |url=https://www.businessnews.com.au/Person/Michael-Hawker |website=Business News |language=en}}
Hawker, born in Wellington, New South Wales, attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School and was an Australian Schoolboys rugby representative, featuring on the unbeaten 1977–78 touring side.{{cite web |title=Michael John Hawker |url=https://classicwallabies.com.au/players/michael-john-hawker |website=classicwallabies.com.au |language=en}} He went on to study at the University of Sydney, where he attained a Bachelor of Science degree.{{cite news |title=The Top 50 So How Did They Get There? |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/the-top-50-so-how-did-they-get-there-20061013-jf44v |work=Australian Financial Review |date=13 October 2006 |language=en}}
Mainly a centre, Hawker was capped 25 times for the Wallabies during the 1980s. After debuting as a 20-year old against Fiji in Suva, he surprisingly received the vice captaincy a month later for a home series against the All Blacks. He remained a candidate for the Test captaincy in future years, but ultimately would only lead the team in uncapped matches, including on the 1981–82 tour of Britain and Ireland.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116375198 |title=Hawker aims to captain Australia |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=24 March 1983 |page=24 |via=National Library of Australia}} His kicking was not a particular strength, but in the 1982 Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park, he memorably kicked a drop goal from over 50 metres out.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116469514 |title=Wallaby series hopes smashed by Hewson |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=12 September 1982 |page=23 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Hawker is a former Insurance Australia Group CEO and served on the board of Westpac from 2020 to 2023.{{cite web |last1=Penny |first1=Jessica |title=Michael Hawker to leave Westpac board |url=https://www.investordaily.com.au/appointments/53649-michael-hawker-to-leave-westpac-board |website=Investor Daily |language=en-gb |date=17 July 2023}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Wikidata-inline}}
- {{ESPNscrum|9180}}
{{1984 Grand Slam Wallaby squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hawker, Michael}}
Category:Australian rugby union players
Category:Australia international rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from New South Wales
Category:Sportspeople from Wellington, New South Wales
Category:People educated at Sydney Church of England Grammar School
Category:University of Sydney alumni
Category:Australian chief executives
Category:Bank presidents and chief executive officers
Category:Members of the Order of Australia