ɡˈæləɡɚ bɪɡˈæn wɪð fˈoːɹ mˈætʃᵻz ɪn fɹˈæns ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks, ænd kəntˈɪnjuːd θɹuː ðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɛvən sˈiːzən, sᵻmˈɛntɪŋ hɪz tˈɛst mˈætʃ stˈɑːɹɾɪŋ spˈɑːt ænd wˈɪnɪŋ ðɪ ɪnˈɔːɡjʊɹɹəl ɹˈʌɡbi wˈɜːld kˈʌp ðæt jˈɪɹ ɪn ˈɔːklənd, nˈuː zˈiːlənd.
Gallagher began with four matches in France in 1986, and continued through the 1987 season, cementing his test match starting spot and winning the inaugural Rugby World Cup that year in Auckland, New Zealand.