Ron Bailey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the American journalist, see Ronald Bailey.
Ron Bailey (1914-1989) born in Mayfield, Newcastle, Australia was a rugby league player for the Newtown Jets and Canterbury Bulldogs. He played for the Australian national side in 2 Tests and captained his country in 1 Test in 1946 and was the first Canterbury player to do so.
He was graded with the Waratah Mayfield club at age 18, then represented for Country in 1935-36. In 1936 he came to the attention of Sydney talent scouts when he represented for Newcastle against a touring English side, downing the visitors 21-6.
Bailey came to Sydney for Newtown in 1937 and playing at centre alongside Frank Hyde helped Newtown to win the City Cup that year.
He accepted an offer to join Huddersfield in England in 1937 and played two seasons there at lock forward.
Ron Bailey returned to Australia at the outbreak of WWII and after another season at Mayfield joined Canterbury as captain-coach in 1941 back at centre. Canterbury won a premiership under Bailey in 1941.
After the war Bailey made his state and national representative debuts. He played 5 games for New South Wales against Queensland and visiting English sides.
He played two games for Australia against Great Britain in 1946, the second of those as captain.
With no international fixtures scheduled in 1947 Bailey had played his last Test in 1946. He played out the 1947-48 seasons as captain-coach with West Maitland before his retirement.
[edit] Sources
- Whiticker, Alan (2004) Captaining the Kangaroos, New Holland, Sydney
