Bob Bugden

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Bob Bugden
Personal information
Full nameRobert Alfred Bugden
Born(1936-02-25)25 February 1936
Murwillumbah, New South Wales,, Australia
Died2 November 2023(2023-11-02) (aged 87)
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
PositionHalfback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1954–61 St. George 135 57 0 0 171
1962–65 Parramatta 74 15 33 0 111
Total 209 72 33 0 282
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1960–64
New South Wales
 2 0 1 0 2
1959–60 Australia 2 4 0 0 12
1959–64
NSW City
 3 1 2 0 7

Robert Alfred Bugden (25 February 1936 – 2 November 2023) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He was a halfback with the St. George Dragons in the first half of their 11-year consecutive premiership winning run from 1956 to 1966. He was also a representative in the Australian national team in 1959 and 1960, making two test appearances.

Early years

Bugden grew up in northern New South Wales and attended Murwillimbah High School where he played

beach flags
titles.

St George Dragons career

Bugden played with the

1955, learning the ropes against the powerful South Sydney Rabbitohs champion outfit to whom his side again bowed out in the premiership final with Bugden again scoring a try.[1]

Bugden was the Dragons' first choice half-back for the first six of their consecutive premiership victories from 1956 to 1961 and played 135 club games (133 1st grade), scoring 56 tries for the club.

After St George signed George Evans in 1961 as a potential halfback, Bugden sought an open transfer and was allowed to leave at the end of the season. He followed his Dragons' coach and captain Ken Kearney to Parramatta where he played a further four seasons, often as vice-captain.[2]

Representative career

Budgen made his state representative debut in

Queenslander Barry Muir, who was generally preferred by selectors. At the latter end of Bugden's career Arthur Summons
was the test half.

Budgen was picked for the 1959

Kangaroo tour and played in five tour matches but no tests. He was selected in the 1960 World Cup
squad and although he did not play in any tournament matches, made two tour match appearances for Australia after the World Cup. Bugden made his Test debut in the 1960 domestic series against France for the 2nd Test in Brisbane. He scored three tries on debut in Australia's 56-10 routing of France and backed up for the 3rd Test where he again crossed for a try.

Post playing

Post football, Budgen worked in the club and hotel industry before real estate sales.

Death

Bugden died in Gold Coast, Queensland on 2 November 2023, at the age of 87.[3]

References

  1. ISBN 1875169571
  2. ^ "Official Player Numbers". Parramatta Eels.
  3. ^ "Vale Bob Bugden (1936–2023)". dragons.com.au. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2023.

Sources

  • Writer, Larry (1995) Never Before, Never Again, Pan MacMillan, Sydney
  • Andrews, Malcolm (2006) The ABC of Rugby League Australian Broadcasting Corpn, Sydney
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