Fred Gardner (1909–1999), also known by the

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

of "Yappy", was an Australian professional

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer who played in the 1930s.

Career

A New South Wales interstate and Australian international representative three-quarter back, he played in the

NSWRFL Premiership The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia and contributor to today's National Rugby League. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League (initially named the New Sout ...

for the St. George club. His son, Fred Gardner Jr., was a star player in the

Illawarra Rugby League The Illawarra Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Wollongong, NSW. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1911 with five clubs (Dapto, Helensburgh, Mount Keira, Unanderra and Wollongong). The area p ...

and also had a brief career with St George. A St. George junior from

Hurstville Hurstville is a suburb in Southern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is 16 kilometres south of the Sydney CBD and is part of the St George area. Hurstville is the administrative centre of the local government area of the Georges Riv ...

Public School and the Hurstville United club, Gardner commenced his first grade

career in the 1929 season. Having already represented New South Wales in 1933, 'Yappy' Gardner was selected to tour with the 1933-34 Kangaroos, making his test debut and becoming Kangaroo No. 188. It was against England in the Second Test at Headingley and was Gardner's sole Test appearance. He scored 13 tries in 20 matches on that tour. Gardner scored eleven tries during the

1934 NSWRFL season The 1934 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the twenty-seventh season of Sydney’s top-grade rugby league club competition, Australia’s first. Eight teams from across the city contested the premiership during the season which ...

, sharing the League's top

try Try or TRY may refer to: Music Albums * ''Try!'', an album by the John Mayer Trio * ''Try'' (Bebo Norman album) (2014) Songs * "Try" (Blue Rodeo song) (1987) * "Try" (Colbie Caillat song) (2014) * "Try" (Nelly Furtado song) (2004) * " Try (Ju ...

-scorer position with Dave Brown and

Vic Hey Victor John Hey (18 November 1912 in Liverpool, New South Wales – 11 April 1995), also known by the nickname of "The Human Bullet", was an Australian rugby league national and state representative and later a successful first-grade and natio ...

. The following season he played in the record-breaking 91–6 win over NSWRFL newcomers

Canterbury-Bankstown Canterbury-Bankstown is a customary region of Sydney, Australia, in the south-western suburbs. The area is located around the Bankstown railway line, to the west of the St George region and to the south of the Inner West region. The suburbs o ...

. The

1935 NSWRFL season The 1935 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the twenty-eighth season of Sydney’s top-grade rugby league club competition, Australia’s first. The season culminated in Eastern Suburbs’ victory over South Sydney in the final. ...

was Gardner's last in first grade.

References

1909 births Australia national rugby league team players New South Wales rugby league team players City New South Wales rugby league team players St. George Dragons players Australian rugby league players 1999 deaths Rugby league wingers Rugby league players from Sydney {{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-stub