Rabbitohs in mourning following the death of champion player, administrator and one of the greatest club members to ever don a Bunnies jersey
The rugby league community is in mourning following the death of much-loved former South Sydney captain and former CEO Darrell Bampton.
The respected rugby league figure, who played a crucial role in shaping the Rabbitohs as a premiership force, died on Saturday morning aged 74 after a long illness.
His death has resulted in an outpouring of tributes, with Souths leading the way in a statement saying: ‘On behalf of everyone associated with the Rabbitohs, we offer our deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Darrell Bampton , OAM. ‘
Bampton was a very skilled player, but he was best known as a strong clubman who would do anything for his beloved Souths and other clubs he played for.
Darrell Bampton, pictured with Shane Richardson and Terry Parker, will long be remembered by Souths supporters
Fans were quick to express their condolences to the Bampton family and praised the Souths legend for his contributions to the sport.
‘Remember seeing him play at Redfern. Such a strong competitor and great clubman. Thank you for your dedication to our mighty club Darrell. I hope you knew how loved you were,” one fan wrote.
‘I played against him at Macot oval. “I tried to tackle him head-on and he ran right over me like I wasn’t there,” one former player recalled.
“I have seen him play with great speed making many yards in the opponent’s territory, he was an exciting player who brought fans to their feet when he had the ball,” added another.
I hope you knew how loved you were
Bampton was the 559th first-class player for the Rabbitohs and left an indelible mark on the sport, both as a player and as an administrator.
Born on June 20, 1949, Bampton’s early years saw him shine as a junior at Alexandria Rovers, Waterloo and Zetland clubs.
His leadership qualities became apparent when he captained the Premiership-winning President’s Cup team in 1969 and contributed to the Third Division victory that same year.
Known by the nickname ‘number nine’, Bampton made his first grade debut against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the ninth round of the 1970 season.
Over the course of his career, from 1969 to 1973 and 1978 to 1979, he played 116 games for South Sydney, including 51 in the first grade, where he scored a solitary try.
After leaving Souths in 1973, Bampton took on the role of captain-coach at Collegians Wollongong.
On his return to South Sydney in 1978, at the behest of coach Jack Gibson, he took over the captaincy after an impressive pre-season.
In addition to his playing days, Bampton devoted himself to the development of rugby league, serving as a development officer for Souths. His contributions extended to working with schools, organizing knockouts and promoting participation.
After his retirement, Bampton’s dedication to the sport resulted in various administrative positions.
He held the position of CEO at South Sydney Football Club from 1997 to 1999 and was manager of the NSW State of Origin from 1999 to 2002.
His managerial prowess extended to Tri-series ARL manager (1999), World Cup manager (2000), Kangaroo tour manager (2001) and ANZAC Test manager vs New Zealand (2002).
In addition, he was appointed Vice President of the NSWRFL in 2002.
His lasting contributions did not go unnoticed: Bampton was awarded life membership of SSDRLFC in 1994.
The Australian Government recognized his invaluable services to rugby league on June 9, 2009, when he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).
Darrell Bampton’s funeral, scheduled for this week, is expected to attract Southern greats from far and wide.