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Tim Horan
Personal information
Date of birth	18 May 1970 (1970-05-18) (age 39)
Place of birth	Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	93 kg (14 st 9 lb)
School	Downlands College
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Fly-half, Inside centre
Super Rugby		Caps	(points)
1996–2000	Queensland Reds	119	(285)
National team(s)
1989–2000 1987	Australia Australian Schoolboys	80	(140)

Tim Horan AM (born 18 May 1970) is a former Australian rugby union footballer. He played for the Queensland Reds in the Super 12, and represented Australia, he was one of the best centres in the world throughout the 1990s due to his attacking prowess, formidable defence and playmaking ability. Most unbiased commentators place him behind only Mike Gibson, the great Irish centre, in the all time charts. Horan himself has referred to Gibson as being one of his childhood heroes.

As well as inside centre, Horan also played fly-half and got one cap on the wing. His nickname was Helmet, for his stay-in-place hair, or Truckie, for his love of a "truckie's breakfast" of bacon, sausages and eggs.

Horan's rugby career began at Toowoomba's Downlands College under the tutelage of First XV coach John Elders, a former coach of England. The Downlands First XV of 1987 was arguably one of Australia's finest-ever schoolboy sides, undefeated throughout the year, including matches against Sydney powerhouses Kings, Riverview and St Joseph's College. The side also included future Wallabies Brett Johnstone, Brett Robinson, Garrick Morgan, and Peter Ryan.

He initially partnered Jason Little, with whom he wrote a book entitled 'Perfect Union' and later in his career Daniel Herbert. Horan and Little met when they were 13, rooming together for a rugby league representative team. Horan played a vital role in Australia winning the 1999 Rugby World Cup. He was voted player of the tournament (winning himself a year's worth of Guinness for scoring the fastest try).^[1]

His debut came in 1989 against New Zealand, where he impressed his opposite number, Joe Stanley, so much that Stanley gave Tim his test jersey and told him to keep his own as it was his first. In his next test, he and Little marked the experienced and regarded French pair of Frank Mesnel and Philippe Sella, snuffing them out and allowing Horan to score his first two test tries. That year, in what has become a famous incident in Australian Rugby, both he and Jason Little were subjected to a mock bar room ceremony in which they pledged not to defect to Rugby League. Horan was to receive numerous high profile offers through his career but stayed with Union his whole career.

After the World Cup in 1991, in which he scored 4 tries and a successful Bledisloe Cup in 1992, the Wallabies endured a mixed 1993. 1994 saw his career nearly ended with a horrific knee injury in the Super 10 final and he would spend over a year in painful rehabilitation before making the squad to the 1995 World Cup defence in South Africa, though he was a way shy from his blistering best.

In 1996 he captained the side for the first time and also played at flyhalf as Greg Smith tinkered with the side. He perhaps fortunate to miss out on the 61-22 loss to South Africa but returned to give a fine performance in an otherwise dour 15 all draw with England, putting Ben Tune and George Gregan over for a try apiece.

He peaked again for the 1999 World Cup, giving a masterful performance against South Africa in the semi final. Despite suffering from severe food poisoning the night before the match, he blasted many holes in the South African line in the 27-22 overtime win. This was followed by the second Wallaby World Cup win of his career.

2000 was to be his final test year and was affected by injuries. He signed for English club Saracens and began a career as a newspaper columist and broadcaster. Tim is currently Business Development Manager for Meridien Funds Management. He is an ambassador for Spinal Injuries Association, speaking to school children regarding prevention of spinal injuries. Tim is also an ambassador for Aunties and Uncles - a non-profit organisation offering friendship, role-modelling and support for children in single parent or parentless families. In 2009 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia.^[2]

His father is Mike Horan, Member of Queensland's Parliament for Toowoomba South. Tim's brother Matthew is a former rugby journalist. They have a sister, Emma. Horan has three children and is married to his high-school sweetheart, Katrina Ferris.

Horan completed his career at the English club Saracens.

• Played 80 test caps
• 114 state caps
• 130 points
• 40 tries

References

External links

• Sporting Heroes Profile