Barry Beath

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Barry Beath (born in Eugowra, New South Wales) was an Australian rugby league player for the St. George Dragons and in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership competition. He represented New South Wales and Australia. His played at second-row forward.

Beath was first selected in 1965 for NSW and Australia from Country Representative honours. In 1966 he joined St George in the final year of their 11 year premiership run. Beath had his own 11 year run with the Dragons from 1966 to 1977, with the distinction of winning a premiership in his first and last years with the club. He came on as reserve in the 1977 Grand Final win.

He represented Australia again in 1971 having played in the Dragons Grand Final loss that year to South Sydney where he scored a try.

Barry made the news in 1999 at a post-match Cronulla Leagues Club function when he stepped in to defend a young St George supporter whose jersey was damaged by Cronulla President Peter Gow in an ill advised practical joke.

The term “Barry Beath” is a localised rhyming slang colloquialism meaning “teeth” that might be used by a small number of Sydneysiders who grew up in the 60s or 70s and were familiar with Rugby League.