{{Short description|Australian rugby union international}} {{distinguish|Bill Gunter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Bill Gunther | image = | caption = | full_name = William John Gunther | birth_date = {{birth date|1931|11|07|df=y}} | birth_place = Bathurst, NSW, Australia | death_date = {{death date and age|2009|06|15|1931|11|07|df=y}} | death_place = Orange, NSW, Australia | height = | weight = | occupation = | school = | university = | relatives = Bill Calcraft (nephew) | position = Flanker | repyears1 = 1957 | repteam1 = {{nrut|Australia}} | repcaps1 = 1 | reppoints1 = 0 }} '''William John Gunther''' (7 November 1931 — 15 June 2009) was an Australian rugby union international.
A native of Bathurst, Gunther attended St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill and Wagga Wagga Agricultural College.<ref name="ClassicWallabies">{{cite web |title=William John Gunther |url=https://classicwallabies.com.au/players/william-john-gunther |website=classicwallabies.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
Gunther was a strong tackling flanker and played his rugby in country New South Wales, much of it with Molong.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bowyer |first1=Kate |title=Support from another Molong Wallaby |url=https://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/758050/support-from-another-molong-wallaby/ |work=Central Western Daily |date=21 November 2003 |language=en-AU}}</ref> He gained his first Wallabies call up in 1957 for a home series against the All Blacks. After Chilla Wilson was preferred for the 1st Test, selectors made four changes up front for the 2nd Test in Brisbane, with Gunther earning his solitary Wallabies cap.<ref>{{cite news |title=Two Shock Union Test Team Changes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/122680372 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=29 May 1957}}</ref> He made 15 uncapped appearances on the 1957–58 tour of Britain, Ireland and France.<ref name="ClassicWallabies"/>
==See also== *List of Australia national rugby union players
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{ESPNscrum|6157}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunther, Bill}} Category:1931 births Category:2009 deaths Category:Australian rugby union players Category:Australia international rugby union players Category:Rugby union flankers Category:Rugby union players from New South Wales Category:Sportspeople from Bathurst, New South Wales Category:People educated at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill Category:New South Wales rugby union team players Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen