David Shepherd (rugby union)
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David John Shepherd (1936 – 1 October 2003) was an advertising executive and one of the few
David Shepherd was one of the rare men who graduated from club rugby in
Early life
Shepherd was born in Cheshire and boarded at Blundell's School in Devon. He was 17 when his father was sent to Australia in 1953 to become chairman of Unilever. Shepherd joined the advertising industry, which suited his intellect and his insightful knowledge of others, especially regarding how they were motivated. He quickly moved up the ladder and became a manager at an early age. In January 1959, he married Louise Palmer, with whom he had four children: Tim, James, Annabelle (deceased) and Georgina.
Rugby career
Shepherd lived and worked in
His performance against the
His chance eventually came in the third Test against the
It was a huge loss for Victoria and the Harlequin Club when Shepherd moved to Sydney and the Gordon RFC in 1966 to continue his international career. It was only natural, somehow, that he would then captain Gordon until his retirement from rugby.
Later life
Despite his Wallaby status he still had a soft spot for "The Old Country"; not in rugby, but his support for its cricket team continued, although in latter years he silently despaired of the MCC coming up with the goods on the cricket pitch. His Englishness was apparent in his continued good manners, irrespective of the situation, although he could be somewhat irascible when annoyed by waiters or tradesmen. The term "my good man" was the signal that danger was imminent.
Shepherd left Australia to work in Southeast Asia, where he became regional CEO of the multinational advertising firm USP Benson Needham, operating first of all from Singapore – where he coached the Singapore national rugby union team – then from Bangkok.
He retired to
Sources
- Extracted from "Young Harlequin who joined the Wallaby pack", The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 October 2003
- ESPN Profile