The Ignatian - December 2016 Vol 26 December 2017 Vol 28 | Page 38

Jack Dempsey: Man of the Magis
Jack Dempsey (OR2012) ran out onto Suncorp Stadium Brisbane
on 24 June this year to play against Italy. It was his first Test match,
however, Jack was no stranger to the rugby field. During his time
at Riverview, he was a member of the undefeated 2011 1st XV
GPS Premiers and part of the Australian Schoolboys’ team; after
graduating, he joined the Australian Under 20 World Cup team in
2013 and 2014; and he was signed to the championship-winning
Waratahs in 2015 – all this leading to his selection in the Wallabies
and subsequent debut in Brisbane this year.
Jack is in good company, becoming the 17th Old Ignatian to wear
the Wallabies jersey and represent Australia at this level of the
game. We chatted with him recently about his time at Riverview:
“Being a student at Riverview had a massive impact on where I
am today - I’m not sure I’d be here at all without it. It taught me
a lot about self-discipline and self-motivation, and the qualities I
acquired as a student at Riverview were absolutely the foundation
which drove me to follow my passion to become a professional
rugby player.”
Earlier this year, with his career trajectory at an all-time high, Jack
suffered a serious setback. An ankle injury kept him off the playing
field for almost three months,