He was the captain that orchestrated the ACT's legendary triumph over Wales in 1978.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Now former Royal Military College rugby great Don Muirhead has joined Colin Kahn and RMC's three MacDougall medallists in Greg Jones, Haig Elgar and Bob Brown in being honoured by ACT Rugby at a function celebrating the success of RMC teams on Friday.
And there was plenty of success - Muirhead says the RMC-laden ACT representative side's landmark win against Queensland in 1972 laid the platform for a major change in the region's rugby landscape.
"The Queensland win was absolutely amazing ... which was unexpected and actually paved the way for ACT to then become an independent state in terms of rugby. Prior to that they were under the umbrella [of] NSW Country," Muir said.
"Without RMC particularly in those early days, ACT rugby would never of flourished as it did."
RMC's contribution to the Canberra rugby landscape goes largely unnoticed due to their withdrawal from the ACTRU first grade competition in 1988.
Muirhead said the opportunity to celebrate the contribution of RMC military rugby teams to rugby in Canberra is a great occasion for all past players.
"It's just fantastic, to catch up [with former team-mates] I mean there have been a couple of people I have known of forever and that are icons of rugby... and telling those old stories again is just a great experience," Muirhead said.
Meanwhile, the Queanbeyan Whites will look to cause a John I Dent Cup upset when they meet the Canberra Royals at Phillip on Saturday.
"It's always hard against Royals... but we will give it a good shake. There's a good feeling in the squad," Whites coach Paul Dillon said.
"There's about seven that can play colts [in our first grade XV]. It's a great opportunity and they're taking it with both hands at the moment."
The Uni-Norths Owls take on the Gungahlin Eagles at ANU North Oval while Tuggeranong battle Easts at Viking Park.