Rick Bourke Explained

Rick Bourke
Fullname:Richard Bourke
Birth Date:16 November 1953
Birth Place:Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia
Death Place:Tugun, Queensland, Australia
Retired:yes
Year1start:1973
Year1end:82
Appearances1:146
Tries1:38
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:114
Year2start:1983
Appearances2:1
Tries2:0
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:0
Source:[1] [2]

Richard (Rick) Bourke (16 November 1953  - 15 August 2006) was an Australian rugby league footballer. He played for Cronulla-Sutherland and South Sydney in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition.

Playing career

A Sharkies legend, Rick Bourke played 10 seasons for Cronulla at wing and fullback including scoring their only try in the 10-7 1973 Grand Final loss to a Bob Fulton inspired Manly-Warringah at the Sydney Cricket Ground.[3] He also played on the wing for Cronulla in the drawn Grand Final against Manly in 1978, as well as playing fullback in the replay played just two days later. Manly won the replay 16-0. A local junior from Caringbah, New South Wales, Bourke scored thirty eight tries during his ten-year career at Cronulla, and was a crowd favourite.[4]

He played his final season with South Sydney in 1983.[5]

Death

Rick Bourke died of cancer on 15 August 2006 at the John Flynn Hospital, Tugun, Queensland aged 52.[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/rick-bourke/summary.html Rugby League Project
  2. Whiticker/Hudson
  3. [Roy Masters (sport)|Roy Masters]
  4. Web site: Rugby League Project.
  5. Web site: South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Player Report - Rick Bourke. www.ssralmanac.com.
  6. http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20136964-5006066,00.html Sydney Daily Telegraph, "Sharks Legend dies" 15 August 2006