John Berne

John Berne

Personal information
Born	John Edward Berne (1954-03-14)14 March 1954 County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Died	13 July 2026(2026-07-13) (aged 72) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Position	Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1976–79 South Sydney 73 43 1980 Eastern Suburbs 24 8 1981–83 Cronulla-Sutherland 28 21 1985 Eastern Suburbs Total 125 0 0 0 72
Rugby union career
Position centre International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1975 Australia 1 (0)

John Edward Berne (14 March 1954 – 13 July 2026) was a British-born Australian 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 to 1979, Eastern Suburbs Roosters in 1980 and 1985, and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks from 1981 to 1983 also primarily as a centre.

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-years old, 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.

Personal life and death

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 (Shaun, Mick), and one daughter Mairead. Both sons have played First Grade with Randwick. Bernie died from complications of dementia on 13 July 2026, at the age of 72.