‘Couldn’t go to a better person’: Rugby Australia to rename award in honour of Bondi victim

Peter Meagher, according to his brother Greg, was the epitome of a clubman.

“He’d be the first to arrive on a Saturday and definitely the last to leave,” Greg Meagher says. “He loved what he did. He never did any of it to be recognised, or for accolades.”

However, Meagher’s life of service to rugby – prior to his sad death in the Bondi attacks – will now see him recognised in perpetuity, with a major prize at the Rugby Australia awards to be renamed in his honour.

Meagher was one of 15 people tragically killed last year, while taking photographs of the Hanukkah festival as a volunteer.

Volunteering was at the core of Meagher’s life, and particularly in his beloved sport of rugby. The unassuming “Marzo” was a long-serving referee for several decades, before becoming a popular team manager at Randwick Rugby club. He performed many of the unsung duties at Randwick for more than 20 years.

To honour Meagher, Rugby Australia has re-badged the award it presents to similarly outstanding community volunteers at its annual awards night, which was previously named after former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones.

The award will now be known as the Peter Meagher Spirit of Rugby award, and the change comes with Farr-Jones’ hearty blessing.

“I was delighted,” Farr-Jones said. “It couldn’t go to a better person. Peter represented the true spirit of the game through volunteering and giving back, and it is a privilege to pass the baton.”

The first Peter Meagher Spirit of Rugby award will be presented next week at the RA awards night in Sydney.

“It’s fair to say we’re all quite touched about it,” Greg Meagher said.

“It was really actually unexpected. I knew of the award, and at first I thought maybe they’re going to give it to Peter posthumously. But to have it named after him is touching, and it’s a really positive thing that both recognises the kind of person Peter was, but equally, it’s the legacy.

“He will be remembered for who he was in the contribution he made to rugby, which was pretty unique, over how he passed away. It’s just a really positive lasting memory of Peter.”

Peter Meagher and his four younger brothers – Greg, David, Andrew and Paul – couldn’t have escaped rugby if they tried. The Meagher boys were born with myrtle green blood, given dad Ron was also a referee and a former president of Randwick Rugby Club, and grandfather Wally is a Wallabies Hall of Fame halfback who also coached the Galloping Greens to premierships.

“I remember ball-boying with Peter down on Coogee Oval when we were around five years old. We spent our Saturdays down there,” Greg says.

Peter played at school but preferred refereeing, and while serving in the NSW Police Force, went on to officiate in over 500 games as a NSW Rugby appointee. He probably did twice that number, Greg says, if you count all the school games Peter also quietly refereed on a Saturday morning.

When he hung up the whistle, Peter went back to Coogee Oval and volunteered as a team manager; a mostly thankless task of logistics and problem-solving. He was the first-grade manager from 2018.

“It was at the very heart of his life and a common thread the entire way through. When you speak about service to the game, his was continuous from age five, through to 61,” Greg says.

“Rugby clubs everywhere are built that way — they run off volunteers, but they also provide a place for everyone, and Peter found his tribe there. He lived and breathed the game. He and Virginia travelled on just about every rugby tour you can get on.“

Farr-Jones said the annual award will help cement Peter Meagher’s legacy.

“He committed decades to rugby, and even when he tragically lost his life, he was out serving the community. Those are exactly the people an award like this should honour,” he said. “It is a fitting way to remember someone taken from us far too soon, who gave so much.“

RA chief executive Phil Waugh said: “Marzo embodied the very best of rugby – selfless, passionate and deeply dedicated to the game we love and the people who play it,

“In honour of his tremendous legacy to the game, we are proud to strike a medal in his honour, which will be awarded annually to those who walk the same path of pride and passion as ‘Marzo’ did for the community game.“

Randwick Rugby president Brian O’Sullivan added: “Marzo was the heart and soul of Randwick. That his name will now stand for the spirit of rugby across Australia (passion, integrity, discipline, respect, teamwork) is exactly right. He lived every one of those words.”

Greg says his quiet brother would be humbled by having an award bearing his name.

“If he were here today, he would be a little embarrassed, but he’d be deeply touched,” Greg said.

“There are lots of rugby clubs out there that have people like Peter, and really, they only survive because of them. That’s the great part about this.

“If you want to look at the best in class as to what a team manager is, or just a clubman, Peter was that kind of person.”

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