‘NOTORIOUS’ WALK OFF BY NORTHS PLAYERS TO BE REMEMBERED + BULLDOGS U20s + SCHOOL BAND AT BEAR PARK

15th June 2010 | Back to Full List of Articles | PDF Media Release

It was a day that will be well remembered by those who attended, it had never happened up to that day, it is unlikely to ever happen again and it was one the most bizarre happenings in the history of Rugby League.

In 1970 The North Sydney Bears wore a predominantly white jersey for the first time ever. The jersey came to be known as the “Roy Francis” Jersey, after the Bears Welsh Coach at the time.

2010 marks 40 years since this jersey has been worn and the jersey will once again be worn by the North Sydney team in memory of Roy Francis and of one of the most startling actions ever taken by a first grade captain.

The jersey will be worn in the two games against Canterbury-Bankstown this year, to commemorate the infamous moment in Rugby League history when Ken Irvine, mid match, led the North Sydney players from the field at Belmore against Canterbury on the 29th march 1970.

Recorded in “The Mighty Bears; A Social History of North Sydney Rugby League” by Andrew Moore, the Bears Centre at the time Denis Cubis, said it this way, “Pure frustration is the way you’d put it, for a team to finally say enough’s enough and walk off.”

Denis Cubis recalled that the whistle blower Keith Page, was ‘off the planet that day’, abusing the Norths players and making little effort to disguise his partiality to Canterbury.

North Sydney’s Akka Forbes persuaded the players to return to the field in this Round one clash at Belmore Oval in front of 14,743 people with the Bears ultimately going down 14-16.

A commemorative version of this jersey is available for purchase to the public and will be available to purchase on-line HERE. The jersey will also be raffled off on all remaining home games.

The jersey is a piece of North Sydney history, great to have as a collectors item of the future and it’s a nice way to remember Coach Roy Lionel Francis, maybe a coach just ahead of his time.

The second match at which the jersey will be worn will be against Canterbury-Bankstown this weekend for round 15 on Saturday, 19 June, at North Sydney Oval.

Additionally more great and future talent will be on show in the under 20s Toyota Cup match between the Bulldogs and Titans that will be played as the curtain raiser at 1:00 p.m. and children from the Thornleigh West Public School Band will be on hand to entertain during the breaks.

The Bulldogs and Titans currently sit outside the top eight at 10th and 12th positions respectively so a competitive match is expected.

ROUND FIFTEEN NSW CUP

North Sydney Bears V Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Time: 3:00 pm

TOYOTA CUP

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs V Gold Coast Titans
Time: 1:00 pm

Saturday 19 June 2010
North Sydney Oval, Miller Street, Cammeray.

TEAM LIST

1.Luke Capewell
2.Andre Itula
3.Jamie Simpson
4.Shaune Corrigan
5.Curtis Johnston
6.Eddie Paea
7.Jarryd Hogan
8.John Kaifoto
9.Beau Falloon
10.Daniel Sayegh
11.Deon Apps
12.Brock Molan
13.Dean Webster

15.Michael Tiopira
16.Zeb Tawha
17.Ryan Apps
19.Martin Field
20.Tuki Jackson

Coach: Wayne Lambkin