Tommy Burns (1894-1987) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s.

Playing career

Burns is remembered as the first halfback at

St. George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

in their first season, 1921. He went on to play 76 grade games for St George, 53 of them in first grade. Burns had an impressive record at Rugby League starting at the Moore Park (Paddington) junions in 1909 and won three premierships with the club 1909–1911. After serving with the AIF during World War One he returned to league, captaining the

Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs may refer to: Places *Eastern Suburbs (Mumbai), India *Eastern Suburbs (Sydney), Australia **Eastern Suburbs railway line, Sydney, Australia Sports clubs ;Association football *Eastern Suburbs AFC, Auckland, New Zealand * Eastern ...

President Cup team in 1919. Burns was graded at Easts for 1920 and played first grade with them during the season, then moved to the brand new St George club for their opening year in 1921. Burns retired at the end of the 1926 season after a great career.

War Service

Burns also fought in the Australian Army during WW1 in the 18th Battalion, C Company.

Death

Burns passed away at

Peakhurst, New South Wales Peakhurst is a suburb in Southern Sydney, or the St George Area, in the state of New South Wales, Australia 21 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district. Peakhurst is in the local government area of the Georges River Counci ...

on 1 November 1987 at age 93 although he lived most of his life at

Arncliffe, New South Wales Arncliffe is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Arncliffe is located 11 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Bayside Council. Arncliffe is south ...

Sydney Morning Herald. Death Notice 3 Nov 1987.

References

Sydney Roosters players St. George Dragons players Rugby league halfbacks Australian rugby league players Australian military personnel of World War I 1894 births 1987 deaths Rugby league players from Sydney {{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-1890s-stub