Powerful centre Ryan Cross - the Western Force player of the year for 2008 - earned his Wallaby spurs after completing a successful return to rugby union after a nine season rugby league career with the Sydney Roosters.
In his first season with the Western Force in 2007, Cross played in every Super 14 match, represented Australia A five times and marked his return to the 15-a-side game with selection in the World XV that played South Africa.
His form in his second season with the Force stamped him as one of the best three-quarters in Australian rugby and made him an automatic selection in the Australian Wallabies squad.
After sitting on the bench for the Test against Ireland in Melbourne, Cross got game time against France in Sydney and again a week later against France in Brisbane when he crossed for two tries.
His run-on debut came in his home city of Sydney against the New Zealand All Blacks, the big three-quarter crossing for a try the first time he touched the ball.
His eighth Test cap in 2008 marked another starting XV appearance - again against the All Blacks, this time in Brisbane.
Although the Wallabies lost 28-24, Cross scored a storming try in the final minutes and was later voted the Player's Player and Australia's best performer from voters on the ARU website.
His excellent 2008 form earned Cross a new three year contract with Australian Rugby that will take him to 2011 - and the opportunity to play in the Rugby World Cup.
In his last year at Sydney’s Waverley College (1997) - playing fullback - Cross represented Australian Schools against England and New Zealand.
His team-mates included four future Wallabies: Phil Waugh, David Lyons, George Smith and Adam Freier. Cross’ outstanding performances marked him as a player who was destined to shoot to the top.
But instead of sticking with rugby when he left school, he joined forces with the Sydney Roosters rugby league club where he took little time to establish himself as a class performer.
Aged 18, he made his first-grade debut in his first season, also winning selection in the Australian Junior Kangaroos. In following seasons, he won selection for City Origin and had it not been for a string of serious injuries he would almost certainly have won Test selection.
Cross was voted the Roosters player of the year in 2005. When his stellar career with the club came to an end in 2006, the 95kg centre had chalked up 143 first-grade appearances, scoring 85 tries, the fifth highest in the club's history.