He captained the Australian national rugby league team in five undefeated test matches from 1962 until 1964 and later also coached the side.

He was graded with the Gordon Rugby Union Club and first represented the Wallabies in tour matches against the Springboks in 1956.

In 1963, Summons led Australia to wins against New Zealand, South Africa and on the Kangaroo tour of Britain, for which he was appointed captain-coach.

[3] He missed all three tour tests against the Lions but masterminded the Ashes victory, establishing a plan to dominate the British through the forwards.

[4][5] In 2008, the Western Suburbs Magpies celebrated their centenary by inducting six inaugural members into the club's Hall of Fame.

The 1963 NSW Rugby League Premiership grand final between long-term rivals Western Suburbs and St George was played in a torrential downpour on Saturday, 24 August.

At the conclusion of the hard-fought match, which was won by St George, the captains of the two teams, the very tall Norm Provan and more diminutive Summons, embraced in appreciation of each other's stoic efforts.