John Cootes

Who is John Cootes?

John Cootes is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and Roman Catholic priest. An Australian international representative three-quarter back and adept goal-kicker, he played club football in the Newcastle Rugby League for Western Suburbs and also later worked as a television commentator and presenter.

Trained during boyhood by Clive Churchill, Cootes came from Newcastle and later played for the Lazio rugby union club in 1966 while on scholarship to study theology at Rome's Propaganda College.

In 1967 he commenced playing in the Newcastle Rugby League for Western Suburbs.

Father John Cootes became the first Roman Catholic priest to play international rugby league when he was selected for Australia’s tour of New Zealand in 1969. Also that year he was named New South Wales' Country Rugby League player of the year. He made appearances for Australia as a three-quarter back in 1969 and 1970. He played in the Newcastle Rugby League grand final-winning Wests side in 1970. Cootes' last Test match was the final of the 1970 World Cup which was against Great Britain.