The Sydney Roosters are very saddened to hear of the death today (July 13, 2026) of Rooster #709 John Berne, in Sydney, at the age of 72.
John Berne was born in Belfast, Northen Ireland and played his junior rugby league in the South Sydney district, whilst attending school at Marist Brothers, Pagewood, before he switched to rugby union in 1973 (joining the Randwick club). Berne played one rugby union test for Australia against Scotland in 1975 during the Wallabies tour of Great Britain. He then switched back to rugby league in 1976 playing four seasons with Souths (73 first grade games) before joining the Roosters in 1980. Berne played 15 matches in first grade in 1980 at the Roosters, at both centre and five eighth, but missed selection for the 1980 final series, with Noel Cleal and Kerry Boustead chosen in the centres and fellow rugby convert Ken Wright at five eighth.
He left the Roosters at the end of the 1980 season to play three seasons at Cronulla-Sutherland (28 first grade games). Berne retired at the end of the 1983 season but was coaxed out of retirement by Roosters coach Arthur Beetson and played the 1985 season with the Roosters, adding a further 9 first grade games to his 1980 tally of 15. He is survived by wife Anne, sons Mick and Shaun and daughter Mairead. He will be sorely missed.
