Cadeyrn Neville

Cadeyrn Neville is an Australian lock whose career stands as one of the sport's more remarkable late-flowering stories. Born on 9 November 1988, he played senior rugby across multiple provinces and leagues before finally earning his first Wallabies cap in 2022, well into his thirties. Neville is a tall, physically imposing second row whose strengths lie in the tight five. He is a capable lineout operator, both as a jumper and as a disruptor of opposition ball, and his size makes him a consistent presence at scrum time and in set-piece defence. In open play he is a willing carrier and a reliable cleaner at the breakdown. His path to the top included long stints in Australian Super Rugby, where he built his reputation as a hard-working, low-ego forward who prioritised the needs of the team. That reputation ultimately led to his Test selection. At the Brumbies he provides exactly the kind of senior, set-piece-first leadership that a modern forward pack relies on. His experience of the long climb to professional honours also makes him a natural mentor for younger locks inside the squad.