Ronald James Boden (16 October 1936 – 24 August 2015) was an Australian

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as rugby league in English-speaking countries and rugby 13/XIII in non-Anglophone Europe, is a contact sport, full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular Rugby league playin ...

footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played for Parramatta as a centre and also played for Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.

Early life

Born on 16 October 1936 in Coonamble, New South Wales, Boden grew up there before moving to

Toowoomba Toowoomba ( ), nicknamed 'The Garden City' and 'T-Bar', is a city on the border of South East Queensland and Darling Downs regions of Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital, Brisbane. The urban population of Toowoom ...

in Queensland and played in the local competition after being spotted by coach former North Sydney player Duncan Thompson.

Playing career

Boden was selected to play for Queensland in 1958 and 1959 while living there to compete against New South Wales in the interstate series.

Parramatta

In 1960, Boden moved to Sydney and joined

Parramatta Parramatta (; ) is a suburb (Australia), suburb and major commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney. Parramatta is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district, Sydney CBD, on the banks of the Parramatta River. It is co ...

. In Boden's first season at the club, Parramatta finished last on the table and claimed the wooden spoon. Despite the club's position on the ladder, Boden was selected to play for Australia in 1960 and New South Wales. In 1961, Boden became captain-coach of the Parramatta side but they once again finished last on the table. Boden spent a further two seasons at Parramatta before retiring at the end of 1963. In retirement, Boden continued to be involved with the club for many years.

Canowindra

In late 1964 Boden signed a contract with the Group 11

Canowindra Situated on the Belubula River, Canowindra (pronounced ) is a historic township and the largest population centre in Cabonne Shire, New South Wales, Cabonne Shire. The town is located between Orange, New South Wales, Orange and Cowra, New South ...

Rugby League Club to become playing coach for first and reserve grade sides. He remained with the club until the end of the 1967 season. Boden normally played for Canowindra in the as Five-eighth.

Personal life

He was married to Marie and the couple had four daughters and a son. He died near Wyong on 24 August 2015, 53 days before his 79th birthday.

References

1936 births 2015 deaths Australia national rugby league team players Australian rugby league coaches Australian rugby league players Parramatta Eels captains Parramatta Eels coaches Parramatta Eels players Rugby league centres Rugby league players from New South Wales People from Coonamble Queensland rugby league team players New South Wales rugby league team players 20th-century Australian sportsmen {{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-1930s-stub