Jake Gordon

Jake Gordon is a rare breed of halfback in a country that has produced a long line of champion No.9s. Gordon, at 6-foot, 1-inch, became the tallest Wallaby half since Nick Farr-Jones and possibly the tallest of all-time, when he debuted against Italy in 2018.

Determined, hard-working and talented, Gordon’s real strength is around the ruck where his artful running creates boundless opportunities and space for the players around him.

Born and educated in Sydney, Gordon played his first rugby for the Canterbury Juniors. Upon the completion of his schooling in 2011, Gordon signed with Sydney University Football Club where he faced such tough competition that it was four years before he cemented a spot in the top grade. Gordon had an outstanding 2015 season in both the Shute Shield and with the Sydney Stars in the Buildcorp NRC, and he also trained with the Waratahs as part of their extended playing squad.

The following year he joined New South Wales on a one-year-deal and later played an instrumental part in the NSW Country Eagles NRC campaign where he finished the season as joint leading try-scorer (9). Gordon’s outstanding form saw him earn the title of the 2016 Buildcorp NRC Players’ Player, as voted by his peers, at the annual RUPA Awards. In 2017 an ankle injury to Nick Phipps saw Gordon make his Super Rugby debut against the Lions in Johannesburg. Then, with Phipps still laid low by injury and despite only a handful of senior representative games under his belt, Gordon was called into the Wallaby squad for the trio of June internationals before he deservedly made his Test debut against the Azzurri during the end-of-season Spring Tour.

While Nic White’s return from the U.K. squeezed Gordon from the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad the retirement of Will Genia opened the door for a return to the Wallabies in 2020. Over the past three seasons Gordon has won 19 caps as he and Tate McDermott jockeyed with White for the coveted number nine jersey.

In 2025, Gordon started the first two Test matches against the British & Irish Lions, scoring a try in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He continues to vie for the number nine jersey with McDermott and White, testament to the Wallabies' strength in depth in this position.