Fred de Belin
Encyclopedia
Fred de Belin was an Australian professional rugby league
footballer of the 1940s. An Australian international representative forward, he played club footballl in Sydney for Balmain
, winning the 1946 NSWRFL Premiership with them and later being appointed their captain.
Born 15 October 1920 to World War I
veteran, Ernest de Belin, Fred and his brothers Bill and Jack all became sportsmen from the Balmain
area of Sydney
. Fred de Belin started playing junior rugby league for the Balmain Police boys club, reaching first grade with the Balmain DRLFC
of the NSWRFL premiership in the 1942 season. He was also a New South Wales amateur wrestling champion. De Belin joined the Royal Australian Air Force
and served during World War II
. During that time he won representative selection in the British Empire force's rugby union
side before resuming his professional career with Balmain in 1946. That season he played in the Tigers' victory over St. George
in the final. The following year Balmain again won the premiership but de Belin did not play in the final.
In 1948 de Belin made his début for New South Wales
and then won his first Australian jersey, becoming Kangaroo No. 238 in the second Test
against New Zealand
, helping Australia to a narrow victory that levelled the series.
In the 1948 post season, De Belin was selected as a member of the first Kangaroo side to tour Great Britain and France after World War II. After breaking his leg in the first match of the tour, he recovered to make three Test appearances. He then won selection for the 1949 tour of New Zealand. The eithth and last of de Belin's Test appearances came against Great Britain in 1950, when Australia reclaimed the The Ashes on home soil for the first time in thirty years.
The 1950 NSWRFL season would be de Belin's last with Balmain. During the 1951 Premiership's pre-season, after playing trial matches for Balmain, de Belin announced that he was taking up a two-year contract worth £
450 as captain-coach with the Cootamundra club in the Maher Cup competition. However injury and poor form led to his drop to reserve grade and eventual dismissal in 1951.
Following his death in 2006, De Belin was awarded life membership of the Balmain District Football Club. He was also inducted into the Balmain Tigers' Hall of Fame. In 2011 de Belin's grandson Jack started his NRL career with the St George Illawarra Dragons' under-20s team.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1940s. An Australian international representative forward, he played club footballl in Sydney for Balmain
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
, winning the 1946 NSWRFL Premiership with them and later being appointed their captain.
Born 15 October 1920 to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veteran, Ernest de Belin, Fred and his brothers Bill and Jack all became sportsmen from the Balmain
Balmain
Balmain can refer to:Places:* Balmain, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia* Electoral district of Balmain, an electoral division in New South Wales, Australia* Balmain East, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia...
area of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Fred de Belin started playing junior rugby league for the Balmain Police boys club, reaching first grade with the Balmain DRLFC
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
of the NSWRFL premiership in the 1942 season. He was also a New South Wales amateur wrestling champion. De Belin joined the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
and served during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During that time he won representative selection in the British Empire force's rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
side before resuming his professional career with Balmain in 1946. That season he played in the Tigers' victory over St. George
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
in the final. The following year Balmain again won the premiership but de Belin did not play in the final.
In 1948 de Belin made his début for New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
and then won his first Australian jersey, becoming Kangaroo No. 238 in the second Test
Test match (rugby league)
A Test match in rugby league football is a representative match between teams representing members of the Rugby League International Federation.The definition of a Test match differs from that of an international match...
against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
, helping Australia to a narrow victory that levelled the series.
In the 1948 post season, De Belin was selected as a member of the first Kangaroo side to tour Great Britain and France after World War II. After breaking his leg in the first match of the tour, he recovered to make three Test appearances. He then won selection for the 1949 tour of New Zealand. The eithth and last of de Belin's Test appearances came against Great Britain in 1950, when Australia reclaimed the The Ashes on home soil for the first time in thirty years.
The 1950 NSWRFL season would be de Belin's last with Balmain. During the 1951 Premiership's pre-season, after playing trial matches for Balmain, de Belin announced that he was taking up a two-year contract worth £
Australian pound
The pound was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 13 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. It was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.- Earlier Australian currencies :...
450 as captain-coach with the Cootamundra club in the Maher Cup competition. However injury and poor form led to his drop to reserve grade and eventual dismissal in 1951.
Following his death in 2006, De Belin was awarded life membership of the Balmain District Football Club. He was also inducted into the Balmain Tigers' Hall of Fame. In 2011 de Belin's grandson Jack started his NRL career with the St George Illawarra Dragons' under-20s team.
External links
- Fred de Belin at stats.rleague.com
- Fref de Belin at rugbyleagueproject.org