Seven of the most celebrated players in Australian rugby have been announced as the 2011 ARU Classic Wallabies Statesmen.

One player from each decade since the Second World War was on Thursday chosen to serve as a Statesman in an ambassadorial role for the ARU in what shapes as a huge year for Australian rugby.

Two of the seven Statesmen - 1970s great Geoff Shaw and 1980s star and 1991 World Cup winner Simon Poidevin - are former Test captains.

All seven have played a significant role in the history of the game.

Apart from Shaw and Poidevin, the other Statesmen are 1940s representative Eric Tweedale, 1950s fullback Terry Curley, 1960s stalwart Rob Heming, 1990s great Tim Gavin and Elton Flatley, the 2003 World Cup final goalkicking star.

The ARU Classic Wallabies Statesmen program began in 2008 and a new group of players are announced annually.

The inaugural Statesmen were Sir Nicholas Shehadie, Dr John Solomon, Ken Catchpole, Mark Loane, Andrew Slack, Nick Farr-Jones and John Eales.

In 2009, Arthur Buchanan, John Thornett, Jim Lenehan, John Hipwell, Mark Ella, Tim Horan and Matthew Burke were honoured, while last year David Brockhoff, Peter Johnson, John Brass, Greg Cornelsen, Roger Gould, Jason Little and David Wilson were named as Statesmen.

ARU boss John O'Neill said the Statesmen initiative provided an opportunity for rugby to showcase the game's wonderful alumni of former Wallabies.

"This game has been graced by not only great players but truly inspirational figures and we are recognising their achievements and values through this program," O'Neill said.

"We must never forget our past and the wonderful men who have contributed so much.

"We want the rugby culture to remain strong and vibrant and we want our past heroes as well as our current stars to help us carry those traditions forward.

"Our seven Statesmen will assist in that process thanks to their standing in the game and the broader community."

Plans for the Statesmen include pre-Test jersey presentations to Wallabies players, addressing players from club and schoolboys level to the elite tiers of the game, and attending official functions as ARU Classic Wallabies Statesmen.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP