Vale Wallaby David Emanuel
Maccabi Australia has described former Wallaby David Emanuel, who died late last month aged 87, as “a sporting and community legend” who will be deeply missed, and remembered as “one of the most influential sportsmen of our community”.
A proud fifth-generation Australian, Emanuel’s outstanding rugby career began as a schoolboy for Trinity Grammar and then Sydney Grammar, where he made rep sides, before playing for Eastern Suburbs and NSW.
Tall, strong and hard-working, Emanuel was selected in the Australian team as a second-rower, and played the first of his nine Tests for the Wallabies in 1957.
Over the next two years, he played in a tour of New Zealand and a five-match tour of Britain, France and North America.
Rugby Australia, in a tribute article, wrote that Emanuel “was, and forever will be, Wallaby #425”.
Emanuel was inducted into the Maccabi Hall of Fame in 2003.
He was a founding member of Maccabi NSW Rugby Club, a coach and a mentor to many Maccabi players spanning decades.
He is survived by his sister Janese, daughters Lisa and Fiona, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
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