Brian "Wally" Wood was born in Sydney on 12 August 1951, the son of Thomas Patrick Wood and Veronica Wood. Educated at Marcellin College, Randwick (where he was appointed vice-captain), Brian is best known in Australia for his years of contribution to the Woollahra Colleagues Rugby Union Football Club (WCRUFC) in Sydney, where he has provided decades of loyal service.

Wally's rugby playing days culminated in his appointment as captain of the New South Wales under-16 schoolboy side, which completed an undefeated tour of New Zealand, unprecedented by any schoolboy team, and set a New Zealand record of 5.29 for a four-man boat race. As a senior player, his services as a standover man were certainly valued by the Bondi Boys Rugby Club, whom he led to numerous premierships in the 1980s, which saw them dubbed 'The Impregnables'. His desire to constantly seek new challenges, and his love of the amateur status, saw him return to the 15-a-side game with WCRUFC, where he proved the most skilful of tight-five men.

His passion for the game saw him coach various sides at the club after his playing days, including a Whiddon Cup premiership in 1996. Aficionados of the game attribute the grand final win solely to his rousing half-time speech and his ruthlessness in selecting returning "stars" over club stalwarts who had not missed a game in several seasons. Ever the educator, Wally went on to offer his services to the inaugural Barbour Cup (21 and under) side for the season of 1997.

His sporting prowess was not limited to the oval ball. Gifted with lightning reflexes, hands softer than silk and an ice-cool temperament, Brian was the prototype 21st century cricket player. Despite being a middle order batsman with a century to his name, and having taken a multitude of classic catches at second slip (many off long-time friend and foe D.R.R "Road Rage" Callan), it was his match winning ninth-wicket partnership in 2000-01 with son Ben Wood which he treasured the most. Over his standard post-match Hahn Lite, he was quoted as describing the partnership as "a fcuking dream come true". Brain was renowned for taking to new sports with aplomb; in 2004, in his first attempt at lawn bowls, he delivered what many considered to be "the fcuking perfect bowl".

He is now a limousine chauffeur on the Gold Coast.