STAPLETON, Eddie (1930-2005)

Edgar Thomas Charles (Eddie) Stapleton, (21 November 1930 - 13 November 2005) was an outstanding Australian Rugby Union winger, a member of the St George Rugby Union Club (now Southern Districts) and a Wallaby in the 1950s. He has the unusual distinction of being also recorded as an All Black having played a match for New Zealand in 1960.  The All Blacks were on their way to a tour of South Africa and, on a stop over in Australia, due to injuries, were short of a player for a match against Queensland. Stapleton was invited to join the team and became the 613th player to be selected as an All Black. He scored a try in the match.

Eddie Stapleton was born in Sutherland NSW on 21 November, 1930, the son of Thomas Leslie Stapleton (1891-1964) and his wife,Doris Edna (Dorrie) nee Boyle (1897-1948).  The Stapleton and Boyle families were prominent in the Sutherland Shire.  Eddie had a younger sister, Josephine Elizabeth (1932-), and was educated at St. Bernard's De La Salle College, Katoomba, NSW, where he was a boarder.

One of the most popular players of his time, Eddie Stapleton was a 20-year old when he began his representative career against New Zealand in rain and mud on the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in 1951. Stapleton played in 16 Tests for Australia between 1951 and 1958, toured New Zealand with the Wallabies in 1952, 1955 and 1958 and toured South Africa in 1953.  He played two tests aginst Fiji in 1952 and one test against Fiji in 1954 which was his last home match in Wallaby colours. He played many games for the NSW Waratahs, a record 236 games for St George and scored 144 tries.  He was captain when St George won the premiership in 1957 and retired from the Wallabies in 1958 to concentrate on business. He was made a Life Member of the St George Club.

After  retirement, Stapleton concentrated on learning the hotel trade with Frank Hurley, a former Rugby League winger and licensee of a Kogarah hotel.  This was in preparation for his eventual  take over of Boyles' Hotel at Sutherland established by his grandfather, Edgar William (Ted) Boyle (1868-1942). By 1963, Eddie Stapleton was the licencee of Boyle's Hotel at 808 Princes Highway, Sutherland and living on the premises.

On 27 February, 1954, Eddie Stapleton married June Edith Fraser, daughter of Stewart Jack Fraser and his wife, Eileen May nee Kelly.  Jack Fraser had an electrical repair and bicycle shop in Curranulla Street, Cronulla.  At the time of their marriage, Eddie's occupation was electrician. Eddie and June would have seven children - Sharyn Dorise (1955), Gary Edgar (1956), Lauren Junene (1958), Leanne Marita (1960), Paul Gerrard (1961), Michael Peter (1963), Keileen Carmel Louise (1972).  They would later live in Sorrento Place, Cronulla.

Eddie Stapleton died on 13 November, 2005 and was cremated at Woronora Cemetery and his ashes were collected by his son Michael. He was survived by his wife June and his seven children.

View the entry in the database for Stapleton, Eddied (1930-2005) and family Click on his name at the heading of this page.

 References:

NSW BDM

Wikipedia

Rugby Australia

Australian Electoral Rolls

Ancestry

Trove

the Sun

the Propeller

Woronora Cemetery