Born: 26 March, 1973 in Brisbane, Australia

Matthew Burke was the outstanding full-back of his generation, accomplished in every facet of the game required to play the position. The Sydneysider had brilliant positional sense, was excellent under the high ball, hit hard in the tackle and had a great boot on him, which made him indispensable in defence. In attack, he had a good burst of pace and hit hard lines, while his goal-kicking made him a proven matchwinner in many of the 81 tests he played for Australia.

Burke first showed his international calibre as a member of the unbeaten 1990/91 Australian Schools tour to Europe. From there, he graduated to first-grade rugby, playing for Eastwood Rugby Club as an 18-year-old and then New South Wales.

Senior international recognition was not long in coming as Burke was selected by Australia to play in the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1993. He is the third member of the team that lost the final to England to be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of the Fame after David Campese and Michael Lynagh. A few months later, Burke made his test debut for the Wallabies off the bench in a 19-12 win over South Africa in his home city.

Initially alternating between full-back and centre, Burke scored the first of his 29 test tries against Ireland in his fourth cap in 1994 and kicked his first points in the comfortable 42-3 win over Romania at Rugby World Cup 1995. Once Michael Lynagh retired after that tournament, Burke became Australia’s regular kicker and he went on to amass 878 points in green and gold, including 25 in the Wallabies’ 35-12 victory over France in RWC 1999 final.

Having started the 2001 British and Irish Lions series on the bench, Burke was named full-back for the remaining two tests as the Wallabies bounced back from defeat at The Gabba to win 2-1. Burke scored a try and kicked 20 points in Melbourne and was again key to victory in the deciding test in Sydney, kicking a further 19 points.

Burke appeared in one more Rugby World Cup on home soil in 2003 before retiring from test rugby a year later as a legend of Australia rugby. He signed off with a successful spell overseas with Newcastle in the English Premiership.