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Michael Arthur Cleary AO (b. 30 April 1940) is an Australian former rugby league and rugby union player and politician. He had been an Australian rugby league and rugby union player - a dual rugby international. He represented the Wallabies in 6 Tests in 1960-61 and the Kangaroos in 8 Tests from 1962.
Cleary was born in Randwick, New South Wales and was educated at Christian Brothers Waverley. He had represented Australia in Athletics at the Commonwealth games in 1962 collecting the Bronze Medal for the 100 yard sprint. He is one of only four Australian sportsmen to represent internationally in three different sports at the senior level. (See also Dick Thornett and Snowy Baker).
His international rugby league debut in the 1st Test against Great Britain in Sydney on 9 June 1962 saw Cleary become Australia's 27th dual code rugby international, following Arthur Summons and preceding Dick Thornett. He was a Winger with the South Sydney Rabbitohs throughout the 1960s. He played in three premiership winning sides in 1967, 1968 and 1970.
Cleary was the State member for Coogee in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1974 to 1991 and was the NSW Minister for Sport in the Wran Labor Government from 1981 to 1988.[1]
In the Queen's Birthday Honours list of 1992, Cleary was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to the New South Wales Parliament,[2] and in 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his achievements as a Kangaroo player.[3]
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