Reg Gasnier facts for kids

Reginald William "Reg" Gasnier (born 12 May 1939 – died 11 May 2014) was a famous Australian rugby league player and coach. He played as a centre for the St. George Dragons from 1959 to 1967. Reg Gasnier also played for the Australian Kangaroos. He set a record by playing in 36 Test matches and three World Cup games. He was the captain of the Australian team eight times between 1962 and 1967.

Reg Gasnier is considered one of the greatest rugby league players ever. He was named in the National Rugby League's list of 100 greatest players. He was also part of the special honorary Australian Rugby League's Team of the Century. He is a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. He received an award called the Member of the Order of Australia for his achievements.

Early Life and Sporting Talent

Reginald William Gasnier was born in Mortdale, a suburb in Southern Sydney, on 12 May 1939. From a young age, Reg showed great skill in sports.

Excelling in Rugby and Cricket

At Sutherland Intermediate High School, Reg Gasnier was excellent at both rugby and cricket. He later attended Sydney Technical High School in Bexley. There, he became a top sportsman in both rugby and cricket. He even played for junior state teams in both sports. He then played rugby league for a junior club called Renown United.

When he was just 13, Gasnier was chosen for the New South Wales schoolboys team. They played a special match before the 1952 Australia and New Zealand Test game.

Reg Gasnier's Amazing Career

Many people describe Reg Gasnier as the perfect all-round rugby league player. His teammates and opponents often spoke about his incredible skills.

What Made Reg Gasnier Great?

Keith Barnes, a teammate, said that Gasnier had everything. He had amazing speed, quick changes of direction, and could trick defenders easily. Barnes believed there was no better sight in rugby league than watching Gasnier play. Dave Bolton, who played against Gasnier, called him a "great player." Bolton said Gasnier was very fast and unpredictable, always keeping opponents guessing.

When Gasnier retired, Bill Buckley, the ARL chairman, said Gasnier was the greatest player he had ever seen. Buckley noted Gasnier's fantastic speed changes and his ability to anticipate plays. He also mentioned that Gasnier was very unselfish. Gasnier was often called "Puff the Magic Dragon" and the "prince of centres" because of his brilliant play.

Playing for the St. George Dragons

In 1957, at age 18, Gasnier decided to focus on rugby league. He signed with his local team, the St. George Dragons, for the 1958 season. He quickly moved up through the ranks. After only six games in the third-grade team, he made his debut in the first-grade team. Just five games later, he was chosen to play for New South Wales. He scored 15 tries in 16 games for his state team.

By 1959, Gasnier was a key player for both the New South Wales state team and the Australian national team. He was a vital part of the powerful Dragons team that won 11 championships in a row. Gasnier was on the team for six of those wins. He finished his career with the Dragons in 1967. He scored 127 tries and 20 goals in 125 games. Many people believe Reg Gasnier is one of the greatest St. George Dragons players ever.

Reg Gasnier's International Career

In 1959, Gasnier quickly moved from a reserve player to a Test team member. He played his first international game for Australia against New Zealand in Sydney. He played in all three games of that series. Then, he toured Britain with the Kangaroos. During the tour, he scored three tries in a big win against Great Britain.

In 1960, he played in the World Cup finals as part of the national team. He is known as Kangaroo No. 339 in the Australian Players Register.

Becoming Australia's Youngest Captain

Gasnier became Australia's youngest captain in 1962. He led Australia against England when he was just 23 years old. The next year, he toured Europe with the National Team again. In 1967-68, he toured Europe once more, this time as both coach and captain of the Kangaroos.

His playing career ended early at age 28. He broke his leg during a game in Leeds, England. This injury meant he could not play for the rest of the English tour. He tried to return to play in France. However, in a smaller game, he broke his leg again. This second injury led him to retire from playing at just 28. He later said he never regretted retiring. He explained that he had been playing rugby league almost non-stop since the early 1950s. He felt it was time to spend more time with his family.

He finished his international career as Australia's most-capped player. He played a total of 39 games for Australia (36 Test matches and 3 World Cup games). This record stood until Mal Meninga broke it in 1992. Gasnier scored 28 tries for Australia and was captain eight times.

Life After Playing

After retiring from playing in 1967, Gasnier stayed involved in rugby league through the media. He became a sports writer and a broadcaster. He gave expert opinions on the ABC's Grandstand television coverage during the 1970s.

Family and Later Life

Reg Gasnier met his future wife, Maureen Sullivan, while they were both at Sydney Technical High School. They got married in 1962. Reg Gasnier was the uncle of another rugby league player, Mark Gasnier. Like his uncle, Mark was a centre and played for both New South Wales and Australia.

In 2010, Reg Gasnier had major surgery to remove growths from his neck and brain. He passed away on 11 May 2014, the day before his 75th birthday. He died in a nursing home in Miranda after a long illness. He was survived by his wife, his son Peter, his daughter Kellie, and his four grandchildren. Maureen passed away on 30 September 2016.

Awards and Recognition

Reg Gasnier received many honours for his amazing career.

Becoming an Immortal and Hall of Famer

In 1981, Gasnier was chosen as one of the first four "Immortals" of Australian rugby league. This is a very special honour. The other Immortals chosen at that time were Clive Churchill, Johnny Raper, and Bob Fulton. In December of that year, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was also inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1989. He also received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and the Centenary Medal in 2001.

In 1989, he was given Life Membership of the St. George Dragons club.

Teams of the Century and Statues

In 2007, experts chose Gasnier for the "Team of the 50s" as a centre. In February 2008, he was named one of Australia's 100 Greatest Players. This was part of the celebration for the sport's 100th year. Gasnier was also named as one of the centres in Australian rugby league's 17-player Australian Rugby League's Team of the Century in April 2008. New South Wales also included Gasnier in their own team of the century.

Gasnier became a life member of the Sydney Cricket Ground. A special plaque there remembers his career. In 2010, a bronze statue of Gasnier was put up at the grounds. It was the seventh statue in the Basil Sellers Sports Sculpture project.

Remembering Reg Gasnier

On 5 July 2014, a special event was held at Jubilee Oval in Kogarah to honour Reg Gasnier's life. Over 12,000 people attended. Many of his former teammates were there, including three other Immortals: Graeme Langlands, Wally Lewis, and Johnny Raper. The wives and sons of other famous players also attended. The event included tributes, historical photos, and videos of Gasnier's career. A plaque is now placed near the sideline of Jubilee Oval. It marks the spot where Gasnier showed his amazing skill during his rugby league career. His wife Maureen and children, Kellie and Peter, unveiled the plaque.

On 20 July 2022, Gasnier was named as a centre in the St. George Dragons District Rugby League Clubs team of the century.