New South Wales-born loose forward David Lyons only took up rugby at the age of 16 and his natural sporting ability showed immediately as he was selected for the NSW Country U16s side in 1996. He would go on to make the Australian Schoolboys side the following year and captained the side in 1998.
During his first year at Wesley College, he won the Rawson Cup and a gold medal at the 1999 Australian University Championships in Perth. Thanks to strong performances with the University side, Lyons was selected for the NSW and Australian U19 squads.
In 2000 Lyons made his Super Rugby debut for the Waratahs against the Stormers and in June that same year at the age of 19 Lyons made his Wallaby debut having only represented the Waratahs on 5 occasions.
Lyons set a record of 83 consecutive matches in Super Rugby before picking up an injury in 2005.
Lyons’ record in the Wallaby jersey since taking over from Toutai Kefu was just as phenomenal. He racked up 40 caps before groin and back injuries forced him out in the latter part of the Wallabies’ 2005 campaign. After a prolonged layoff, he resumed playing in the late stages on the 2006 season for Sydney University and forced his way into the Wallabies end-of-season European tour squad.
In 2008 Lyons signed a 4-year deal with Welsh side Scarlets and in his first season with the club, he started in all 30 of the Scarlets matches. Ahead of the 2010/11 season, Lyons took over the captaincy at Scarlets.
In June 2011 Lyons signed for French side Stade Francais a day after being released by the Scarlets with one year remaining on his contract.
In 2015 Lyons retired from professional rugby ending a fantastic career that lasted 15 years and included 44 test caps for the Wallabies.
JW April 2017
Career
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Australia No. 8 |
2000 - 2007 |
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NSW Waratahs No. 8 |
2000 - 2008 |
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Scarlets No. 8 |
2008 - 2011 |
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Stade Francais No. 8 |
2011 - 2015 |
