John Berne


John Edward Berne is a rugby union and rugby league player who represented Australia in rugby union. Berne, a centre, claimed one international rugby cap for Australia. In rugby league, Berne represented South Sydney Rabbitohs from 1976–79, Eastern Suburbs Roosters in 1980 and 1985, and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks from 1981-83 also primarily as a.

Biography

Berne was born on 14 March 1954 in Anderstown, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland to Gerald and Mary Berne. He has four brothers. In 1961, his family relocated to Australia. Berne attended school at Marist Brothers, Pagewood, where he was introduced to the Rugby League. Throughout middle school, he represented both the Marist midweek and South Sydney in the Under 15 Years S G Ball Competition. He then went on to play for MBP as a senior in school.
In 1972, when he was 18 year of age, he presented himself to the Randwick Club, but was advised to spend a year with the Colts due to his lack of experience. Instead, he went back to join the South Sydney Jersey Flegg Team. He also played some Third Grade matches for the Souths as an amateur rugby player.
In 1978, Berne married Anne Hickman. Anne is the grand-niece of the legendary Rugby League Test centre Dave Brown. The couple have two sons, and one daughter. Both sons have played First Grade with Randwick.