Dick’s bumper memory

Dick Healy recalled the day he went head-to-head, literally, in scrums, with the legendary hard-man Frank ‘Bumper’ Farrell when he was visited at Hornsby Hospital by the Foundation’s Chris Letters, Fred Jackson and Ken Vessey.

Dick played for St George from 1945-48 (and Easts in 1949)  and was delighted when his visitors brought three programs from the era, courtesy of the NRL’s Rugby League Museum, showing him listed in the Dragons’ sides again Newtown, South Sydney and Balmain.

He rattled off teammates’ names and memories before recalling the day he took on international enforcer Farrell.

He was asked “did you get the better of Bumper?” and Dick replied with a huge grin: “No, but I did subdue him,” adding that he always respected his opposition players.