John Cootes
Encyclopedia
John Cootes was an Australian professional rugby league
footballer and Roman Catholic priest. An Australian international representative three-quarter and adept goal-kicker, he played club football in Newcastle for Western Suburbs and also later worked as a television commentator and presenter.
Trained during boyhood by Clive Churchill
, Cootes came from Newcastle and later played for the Lazio rugby union
club in 1966 while on scholarship to study theology at Rome's Propaganda College.
In 1967 he commenced playing in the Newcastle Rugby League
for Western Suburbs.
Father John Cootes became the first Roman Catholic priest to play international rugby league when he was selected for Australia’s tour of New Zealand in 1969. Also that year he was named New South Wales' Country Rugby League player of the year. He made appearances for Australia as a three-quarter in 1969 and 1970. He played in Newcastle Rugby League
grand final winning Wests side in 1970. Cootes' last Test was the final of the 1970 World Cup
which was against Great Britain. A particularly violent match, Australia won 12-7, with Cootes scoring a try in the first half.
Eventually Cootes left the priesthood to marry and opened a chain of furniture stores in New South Wales. After football, Cootes also enjoyed a long and successful media career, becoming a sports commentator for Channel 10. In 1979 he was appointed as John Singleton's replacement as host of Channel 10's Saturday Night Live programme. He left Channel 10 in 1983 to concentrate on a business venture, but returned to television in 1986.
He was named at centre in West Rosellas RLFC's team of the century.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer and Roman Catholic priest. An Australian international representative three-quarter and adept goal-kicker, he played club football in Newcastle for Western Suburbs and also later worked as a television commentator and presenter.
Trained during boyhood by Clive Churchill
Clive Churchill
Clive Bernard Churchill AM was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach of the mid-20th century. An Australian international and New South Wales and Queensland interstate representative fullback, he played the majority of his club football with and later coached the South Sydney Rabbitohs...
, Cootes came from Newcastle and later played for the Lazio rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club in 1966 while on scholarship to study theology at Rome's Propaganda College.
In 1967 he commenced playing in the Newcastle Rugby League
Newcastle Rugby League
The Newcastle Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Newcastle, Australia. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1910...
for Western Suburbs.
Father John Cootes became the first Roman Catholic priest to play international rugby league when he was selected for Australia’s tour of New Zealand in 1969. Also that year he was named New South Wales' Country Rugby League player of the year. He made appearances for Australia as a three-quarter in 1969 and 1970. He played in Newcastle Rugby League
Newcastle Rugby League
The Newcastle Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Newcastle, Australia. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1910...
grand final winning Wests side in 1970. Cootes' last Test was the final of the 1970 World Cup
1970 Rugby League World Cup
The fifth Rugby League World Cup was held in Great Britain in 1970. Britain, fresh from defeating Australia in the Ashes, were hot favourites, and won all three of their group stage games. All the other nations lost two games each, and Australia qualified for the final largely on the back of an...
which was against Great Britain. A particularly violent match, Australia won 12-7, with Cootes scoring a try in the first half.
Eventually Cootes left the priesthood to marry and opened a chain of furniture stores in New South Wales. After football, Cootes also enjoyed a long and successful media career, becoming a sports commentator for Channel 10. In 1979 he was appointed as John Singleton's replacement as host of Channel 10's Saturday Night Live programme. He left Channel 10 in 1983 to concentrate on a business venture, but returned to television in 1986.
He was named at centre in West Rosellas RLFC's team of the century.
External links
- John Cootes at rugbyleagueproject.org