Des McGovern

Personal information
Full name	Des V. McGovern
Born	13 February 1928 Toowoomba, Queensland
Died	8 February 2013 (aged 84) Toowoomba, Queensland
Playing information
Position	Wing
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
19??–??	All Whites	69	15
19??–??	Newtown (Toowoomba)
	Total	69	15	0	0	0
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
19??–??	Toowoomba		27
1949–56	Queensland	16	12	0	0	36
1952–56	Australia	7	1	0	0	3
Coaching information
Club
Years	Team	Gms	W	D	L	W%
	Toowoomba
Source: rugbyleagueproject.org

Des V. McGovern (13 February 1928 - 8 February 2013) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s. A Queensland state and Australia national representative winger, he played his club football in Toowoomba, where he later become a successful coach and well-known radio match commentator.

Biography

Des McGovern was born in Toowoomba, Queensland on 13 February 1928. He was a student at Brisbane's Nudgee College.^[1]

Playing career

McGovern started playing rugby league football in Ipswich before moving to Toowoomba in 1947. He was first selected to represent Queensland in 1949.^[2] During the 1950s McGovern was a member of the Toowoomba Bulimba Cup teams, coached by Duncan Thompson. During the 1951 French rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand McGovern was selected to play on the wing for Queensland in their match against the touring Frenchmen, which ended in a 22-all draw.

In 1952 McGovern first gained selection for the Australia national rugby league team, becoming Kangaroo No. 296.^[3] He was selected as a winger for the 1952-53 Kangaroo tour. On the 1956-57 Kangaroo tour, McGovern was selected to play in all three Test matches against Great Britain.^[4] McGovern retired having scored the most tries in the history of the Bulimba Cup with 27.

Post-playing

Following his playing days, McGovern became a successful coach in Queensland country regions and Toowoomba, where he coached the Clydesdales. He also worked as a rugby league writer for the Downs Star and The Chronicle. McGovern went on to become one of the Darling Downs region's best known radio sporting voices during a 36-year working partnership with broadcaster Pat O'Shea. The pair began their long association calling Toowoomba rugby league matches on radio station 4AK before moving to 4GR, 4WK and finally 102.7FM.^[5] From 1985 to 1987 McGovern was the president of Toowoomba's All Whites club.^[6]

In 2008, rugby league in Australia's centenary year, McGovern was named on the wing of the Toowoomba and South West Team of the Century.^[7] McGovern retired from full-time commentary at the end of the 2010 season, aged 82. McGovern died in St Andrew's Hospital, Toowoomba five days short of his 85th birthday, survived by his partner of 12 years Bev Higgins, his children Barbara, Des and Margaret and their families.^[8] His son, Des McGovern, Jr. also played rugby league for Toowoomba's All Whites club.

References

1. Barnett, Murray (2015). For the Love of the Game. Australia: Boolarong Press. p. 53.
2. "Qld Rep Players". qrl.com.au. Queensland Rugby League. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
3. australianrugbyleague.com.au. "Players Register". Kangaroos. ARL. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
4. "Vale Des McGovern". menofleague.com. Men of League. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
5. McCullough, Glen (8 February 2013). "Sporting community mourns death of league legend". The Chronicle. APN News & Media. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
6. "HISTORY OF ALL WHITES RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL CLUB" (PDF). brothers.org.au. Brothers Toowoomba Rugby League Club. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
7. Leslie, Cameron (21 August 2008). "Rugby League Team of the Century named". The Chronicle. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
8. Farmer, Kevin (13 February 2013). "Large crowd bids farewell to Toowoomba rugby league legend". The Chronicle. APN News & Media. Retrieved 5 June 2016.